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AUHKDlE 



THE ATTACK 



GEN. WILLIAM HULL 



BY H. A. S. DEARBORN. 




BOSTON C& 



PRINTED BY EDGAR W. DAV1E.S. 

1824. 







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SHBSNBRGHB 



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General "William Hull, late of the army, 
having made an appeal " to the People of 
the United States," in which he has attempt- 
ed to exonerate himself from blame, by at- 
tributing his unfortunate surrender of the ar- 
my at Detroit to my father, it becomes my 
duty, in his absence, to present a statement 
of (acts, which will show, that the causes of 
the disasters of the North Western Army 
were those, which induced a court martial 
to sentence the commander "to be shot to 
death,' 1 '' and that there is not the shadow of 
a reason to warrant him in attributing his 
unconditional SURRENDER of an entire 
army and territory, to the conduct of Gene- 
ral Dearborn. 

He first accuses General Dearborn of a dis- 
obedience of orders, in not co-operating with 
him, on the Niagara, which he alleges, was 
one great cause of his misfortunes ; and that 
the temporary suspension of arms, entered 
into with Sir George Prevost, the Governor 
General of Canada, enabled the enemy to 
send reinforcements to Fort Maiden, at the 
time he was investing it, which completed 
his disasters. 

A plan of the anticipated campaign against 
the Canadas was submitted to the Secretary 
of War, hy General Dearborn, previously to 
his departure from Washington, in 1G12; in 
which he recommended, that the main army 
should advance upon Montreal, by the way 
of lake Champlain, while three corps, com- 
posed chiefly of militia, should enter upon 
Canada, from Detroit, Niagara, and Saeket's 
Harbour. In accordance with this system of 
operations, he was directed to proceed to 
Albany, and make the necessary arrange- 



ments for concentrating an army on the 
Hudson and lake Champlain, which was to 
invade Lower Canada ; then proceed to 
Boston — nd, after putting the sea coast of 
New England in as perfect a state of defence 
as possible, return to Albany. — This was 
done, and he reached the encampment at 
Green Bush, on the 2Gth of July, 1812, 
where his chief efforts were to be directed 
to the organization of the troops, and the es- 
tablishment of depots of provisions and mu- 
nitions of war, for the descent upon Mon- 
treal and Quebec ; to which operations alone 
he considered his command to extend, as ha 
had distinctly expressed in the plan of the 
campaign above named ; and had no idea 
that Niagara, or the posts on the lakes, west 
of it, were included therein, than that it 
embraced the whole of the United States. 

The army under General Hull, and the 
forces assembled on the Niagara, were under 
the immediate orders of the Government ; 
and General Dearborn neither gave orders 
to, or received reports from, the command- 
ing officers of either position, until after he 
arrived at Albany, on the 26th of July ; and 
General Hull had no right to anticipate any 
co-operation on the Niagara, or other u posts 
below'''' him, when he invaded Upper Cana- 
da, as will appear by the instructions from 
the Secretary of War, under which he acted, 
dated June 24, 1812, which he has publish- 
ed in his twelfth number, except the last and 
very important paragraph, which is here in- 
serted, in conjunction with the one directing 
' him to take Fort Maiden. 

" Should the force under your command 
i be equal to the enterprise, consistent with 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



the safety of your own posts, you will take 
possession of Maiden, and extend your con- 
quests as circumstances may justify. 

" It is also proper to inform you that an a- 
dequale forte cannot soon be relied on, for 
the reduction of the enemy's posts below yoiC 

In support of the assertion, that General 
Dearborn did not consider any part of Low- 
er Canada under his command, until after he 
reached Albany, on the 26th July, 1812, and 
that the moment he received orders to make 
a diversion at Niagara, in favor of General 
Hull, he promptly took measures to execute 
them, the following official letters, and ex- 
tracts therefrom, are introduced. 

Extract of a letter from General Dear- 
born to the Secretary of War, dated 

Head Quarters, Gieenbush, July 28, 1312. 
" Who is to have the command of the ope- 
rations in Upper Canada? I take it for grant- 
ed, that my command dots not extend to that 
distant quarter.'*'' 

On the 26th of July, the Secretary wrote 
General Hull as follows : " A force is collect- 
ing at Niagara. General Dearborn's head- 
quarters are at Albany. He will be apprised 
of your situation, and directed to keep up a 
correspondence with you, and the immedi- 
ate command at Niagara ; and to take mea- 
sures to afford the necessary support. 1 ' 

In the above letter, the Secretary says, 
General Dearborn "u'i7Z be, apprised of your 
situation," and on the first of August, he 
wrote General Hull, that "On the~26th of 
July, your letters of the 7th and 10th were 
enclosed to General Dearborn, with a copy 
of mine to you of the 26/A." which renders 
it evident, that General Dearborn had not 
been before ordered to co-operate on the 
Niagara. The following is an extract of the 
letter of the 26th of July to General Dear- 
born. 

" War Department, July 26, 1812. 
" Sir-- Your letter of the 17th inst. is re- 
ceived. A letter from Brigadier General 
Hull, of the 7th, announces his arrival at 
Detroit, on the 5th inst. with a force of 
more than 2000, consisting of the 4th Infan- 
try, recruits of the 1st infantry, and volun- 
teers from Ohio. His troops are in flue health 
and good spirits, and he was providing the 
means to cross the river. Arrangements 
should be immediately made by you to co- 
operate with him at Niagara." 

It is now fully proved, that the above were 
the first instructions which were sent to Ge- 
neral Dearborn to make a diversion on the 
Niagara, and which were not received at 
Albany until the 31st of July, only sixteen 
days before the surrender of Detroit. Put in 
the=e instructions the Secretary had antici- 
pated the request of Gen. Hull ; for his first 
intimation that a co-operation was expected, 



or would be necessary to aid him at Detroit, 
was in a letter to the Secretary, as late as 
the \9lh of July, which did not reach Wash- 
ington until the first of August, and was 
not received by General Dearborn until the 
6lh of Aug. — but 10 days before Gen. HulPs 
capture. 

By the following letters and orders, it will 
not only be seen, that Gen. Dtarborn had 
not considered any -part of the borders of Up- 
per Canada as within the command intended 
for him, until the 3i*/ of July ; and that, so 
far from neg'ecting to obey the orders of the 
Secretary of War, when apprised thereof, 
he made every possible effort to concentrate a 
force on the Niagara. 

Letter to the Secretary of War. 
"Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 7, 1812. 

"Sir — I have been honoured with your 
letters of the 26th, 27th, and 29th ult. and 
of the 1st and 5th inst. I have been making 
arrangements with Governor Tompkins, for 
having reinforcements sent to Niagara, Og- 
denburg, and Flattsburg. I trust they will 
move soon, but too late, I fear, to make the 
diversion in favour of General Hull, which 
is so desirable. 

"I have ordered Lieut. Col. Fenwick, 
with two companies of Simonds' regiment, 
two eighteen, and two twelve pounders, to 
move up the Mohawk, to Utica, where the 
roads part, which lead to Niagara and Sack- 
ett's Harbour. 

" I shall order a detachment of light artil- 
lery, and the infantry, with the heavy piec- 
es, a quantity of ammunition, intrenching 
tools, and other articles, to proceed to Nia- 
gara. The whole, except the light artillery, 
will go by water, from Fort Schuyler. I 
wrote to the commanding officers at Niagara 
and Sacket's Harbour, confidentially, to let 
it be known, that they had received intelli- 
gence, that large reinforcements of regulars 
and militia were on their march to join them; 
I enclosed a letter to each of them to that 
effect. It is said, that a detachment has 
been sent from Niagara, by land to Detroit ; 
if so, I should presume, before they can 
march 250 miles, General Hull will receive 
notice of their approach, and in season to 
cut them off, before they reach Fort Mai- 
den. 

" It is reported that no ordnance orammu* 
nition have reached Niagara this season, and 
that there is a great deficiency of those arti- 
cles. Not having considered any part of the 
borders of Upper Canada as within the com- 
mand intended for me, I have received no re- 
ports or returns from that quarter ; and did 
not, until since my last arrival at this place, 
give any ordtrs to the commanding officers of 
the respective posts on that frontier. 

" I have considered it necessary to rein- 
force the troops at Plattsburg and its viciiii- 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



6 



ty, from the presumption, that if we send 
any considerable additional force towards 
Upper Canada, the British forces near Mon- 
treal, would attack our posts in their imme- 
diate neighbourhood, and might take the 
magazines at Plattsburg. Governor Tomp- 
kins, coinciding with me in this opinion, has 
agreed to order out eight hundred of the de- 
tached militia, to reinforce that place. Ma- 
jor General Moore, an intelligent revolution- 
ary officer, commands at Plattsburg. 

kt We should be prepared to act offensive- 
ly at Niagara, but no orders have been giv- 
en to that effect. 1 presume it was not in- 
tended at present. General Van Rensselaer 
should receive orders to cross Niagara river 
as soon as the reinforcements arrive, which 
will give him a total force of 2400 men, es- 
pecially if the enemy has made any conside- 
rable detachments for Detroit ; we might 
take a strong position and maintain it ; ob- 
tain possession of the minor posts, and hold 
the main garrison in check, until we receive 
further aid. 

" Governor Tompkins has agreed to order 
out, in addition to those now in the service 
of the United States, and those intended for 
Plattsburg, eighteen hundred men ; one 
thousand of which are to be marched to Ni- 
agara, and eight hundred to Sacketfs Har- 
bour and Ogdensburg. 

" Will the militia consent to go into Cana- 
da i This is a serious question. 1 have no 
other means of ascertaining their feelings, 
than the information derived from Governor 
Tompkins, who is of opinion that they would 
cheerfully consent to cross the line. 

11 The number of the detachments, march- 
ed from Niagara, cannot exceed two hun- 
dred ; as the whole force of the enemy in 
that quarter has amounted to only about 450 
regulars, from three to five hundred militia, 
and about three hundred Indians. 

" I hope the vessels on lake Champlain 
will be purchased on account of the United 
States, and part of them armed. 

I am, sir, your ob't servant, 

H. DEARBORN." 

Orders to Gen. Van Rensselaer. 

"Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 3, 1812, 
" Sir — You will please to take measures 
for keeping up a correspondence with Geu. 
Hull, and ascertain his movements by ex- 
presses, or otherwise; and as he has crossed 
over into Upper Canada, and taken posses- 
sion of Maiden, it will be expedient to make 
every exertion in your power to co-operate 
with him ; and if your force will not admit 
of any strong offensive operations, it may be 
well to make such diversions in his favour as 
circumstances will permit, so as to prevent 
the enemy from detaching any force from the 
vicinity of Niagara, to oppose the movements 



of General Hull. I trust yoa will soon be 
able to act in a more decisive manner. 
I am, &c. 

H. DEARBORN. 

" Head Quarters. Green Bush, Aug. 6, 1812. 
" To His Excellency Gov. Tompkins. 
" Sir — Agreeable to the result of our con- 
ference this morning, I take the liberty of 
requesting your Excellency to order into the 
service of the United States two thousand 
six hundred of the detached militia of the 
state, duly officered ; one thousand of them 
to join the troops at Niagara, eight hundred 
to join those at Sackett's Harbour, and on 
the upper St. Lawrence, and eight hundred 
to join the troops at Plattsburg. The Quar- 
ter Master General will be ordered to fur- 
nish t j nts, and the means of transportation 
for the necessary baggage. I am, &c. 

H. DEARBORN." 
Orders to Major Mulcany. 

" Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 8, 1812. 
"Sir, — You will proceed without delay, 
with the recruits, under your command to 
Niagara, and report yourself to the com- 
manding General at that place, and receive 
his orders. You will apply to the contract- 
or's agent for furnishing the necessary rations 
on your march. I am, &c. 

H. DEARBORN'. 

Orders to Col. Fenwick. 

" Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 8, 1812. 
" Sir — AtUtica you will detach an intel- 
ligent subaltern, with 34 noncommissioned 
officers, and privates, and two pieces of ar- 
tillery with ammunition, and with the two 
companies of infantry under your command, 
proceed to Niagara, you will take under your 
charge the 18, and 12 pounders, and the 
ammunition and other military stores destin- 
ed for Niagara. The heavy pieces, with the 
military stores, will probably be most conve- 
niently conveyed by water to Niagara, or 
within about twelve miles of the Old Fort, 
and there be landed. The infantry should 
accompany the cannon and stores by water, 
to the head of the Mohawk river and I will 
suggest the expediency of your taking that 
route yourself. On your arrival at Niagara 
you will report yourself to the commanding 
general, and you will take command of the 
artillery generally, including Capt. Leonard's 
company, and also of the infantry of the 6th 
regiment, — and of the new raised troops of 
this State at Niagara. You will suggest to 
the commanding general the expediency of 
removing the troop* from the Old Fort, and 
concentrating his main force, at some place 
with a view of crossing the river into Cana- 
da, or for the better defence of the river. If 
] it should he considered expedient to wilb- 
jdraw the troops from the Old Fort it may be 
J necessary to have it occupied by some niili- 



6 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



tin, and perhaps as a Hospital. You will 
please to give me such information by mail, 
as may be worth communicating. 1 should 
presume that as soon as the reinforcements 
now ordered out bv the Governor arrives, 
that there will be no risk, in acting offen- 
sively. The whole of the artillery should 
be under your command and direction, but 
to be under the orders of the commanditig 
General. I am, &c. 

H. DEARBORN. 
Orders to Colonel Tvlacombe. 

"Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 6, 1812. 
" Sir, — You will please to have two me- 
dium eighteen pounders, and two twelve 
pounders, with one hundred rounds of pow- 
der and ball for each piece, and the necessa- 
ry apparatus complete, prepared, for being 
sent to Niagara, without delay ; — they should 
accompany Lieut. Col. Fenwick 1 s detach- 
ment on Saturday morning next. You will 
apply to the Quarter Master Gen. or his De- 
puty for the Horses necessary for the con- 
veyance of the pieces, and ammunition. 
Yours &c. H. DEARBORN. 

Extract of a letter from General Dear- 
born, to the Governor of Pennsylva- 
nia, dated 

" Green Bush, Aug. 13, 1812. 
" I am authorized by the President of the 
LJnited States, to call to your Excellency, 
for such numbers of the militia of Pennsyl- 
vania, as the service on the frontiers may 
require ; I therefore take the liberty of re- 
questing your Excellency, to have two thou- 
sand of the militia of the north-westerly 
frontier of Pennsylvania ordered out, and 
inarched to Niagara, *-. ith as little delay as 
possible, with a suitable number of officers 
of the different grades, and commanded by 
a Brigadier General. On their arrival at 
Niagara, the commanding officer will report 
himself to the commanding General of the 
troops at that post." 

Letter from Gen. Dearborn to Gen. 
Van Rensselear. 
" Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 20, 1312. 

" Sir— Your letter of the 12th inst. has 
been duly received. As it is believed that a 
detachment has been made from the British 
force at Niagara, to reinforce the garrison at 
Maiden, it will be necessary to be as well 
prepared as possible to take advantage of 
the reduced force in your front, as soon as 
there shall be orders to act offensively. Con- 
siderable reinforcements from the detached 
militia and volunteers, are ordered to Niaga- 
ra, Sackett's Harbour, Ogdenburg and 
PhUtsburg; — and with the detachment of re- 
gular troops, under Lieut. Colonel Fenwick, 
there is some heavy ordnance, ammunition 
and intrenching tools, which will immediate- 
ly be followed with additional orduauce, and 



military stores for Niagara, Sackett's Har- 
bour and Ogdenburg. — I have also ordered a 
considerable number of Batteaux from Sche- 
nactady, to Niagara and Sackett's Harbour, 
and the construction of suitable scows at 
the respective places, including Ogdenburg, 
for the transportation of ordnance, &c. 1 
hope Col. Porter will proceed in the con- 
struction of boats, and scows with all possi- 
ble industry." 

" It will be highly gratifying to me to re- 
ceive intelligence from you by every mail, 
anil in case of emergency, by express. 1 ' 

Yours, &c. H. DEARBORN. 

Ample testimony having been exhibited to 
prove that Gen. Hull made a rash and un- 
founded declaration, when he asserted that 
Gen. Dearborn " neglected to obey the po- 
sitive orders of his government to co-operate 
with the forces under his command. 1 ' I shall 
now show that, no troop or military supplies 
icere sent to the relief of Fort Maiden from 
any '•'•post belowf during the temporary arm- 
istices, and that Gen. Brock did not even 
knoiv that one had been agreed upon, until 
he returned to Fort Erie, on the Niagara, af- 
ter the capture of Gen. Hull and his army, 
and that so far from neglecting the situation 
of Gen. Hull, every precaution was taken by 
Gen Dearborn, to render the arrangement, 
not only, not injurious, but advantageous to 
him. 

Letter from Gen. Dearborn to the Se- 
cretary of War, informing him of 
the temporary armistice. 

"Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug. 9. 1812. 

" Sir. — Col. Baynes, Adjutant General of 
the British Army in Canada, has this day ar- 
rived at this place, in the character of a flag 
of truce, with dispatches from the British 
Government, through Mr. Foster*, which I 
have enclosed to the Secretary of State. 
Col. Baynes was likewise the bearer of dis- 
patches from Sir George Prevost, which is 
herewith enclosed. Although I do not con- 
sider myself authorized, to agree to a cessa- 
tion of arms, I concluded that 1 might with 
perfect safety agree that our troop should act 
merely on the defensive, until I could re- 
ceive directions from my government ; but 
as I could not undertake to include General 
Hull in such an arrangement, he having re- 
ceived his orders directly from the department 
of War, 1 agreed to write to him, and state 
the proposition made to me, and have pro- 
posed, his confining himself to defensive 
measures, if his orders, and the circumstan- 
ces of affairs with him, would justify it. Col, 
Baynes has written similar orders to the Bri- 
tish officers, in Upper Canada, and I have 
forwarded them, to our commanders of posts, 

*Late Minister of G. B. then at Halifax. 



, 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



o be by them transmitted to the British 
commanders." 

" I consider the agreement as favorable at 
this period, for we could not act offensively, 
except at Detroit, for some time, and there 
it will not probably have any effect on Gen- 
eral Hull or his movements, and we shall not 
be prepared to act offensively in this quar- 
ter, before you will have time to give me or- 
ders, for continuing on the defensive or act 
Otherwise. We shall lose no time, or advan- 
tage, by the agreement, but rather gain time, 
without any risk. It is mutually understood, 
that all preparatory measures may proceed, 
and that no obstructions are to be attempted, 
on either side, to the passage of stores, to the 
frontier posts ; but if General Hull, should 
not think it advisable to confine himself to 
mere defensive operations, the passage of 
military stores to Detroit, will not be con- 
sidered as embraced in the agreement last 
noticed." 

Col. Baynes informs me, that a party of 
British troops, and Indians, had taken pos- 
session of Michillimackinack, and that our 
garrison were prisoners. I made no particu- 
lar inquiry as to the circumstances, as I en- 
tertain some doubts as to the fact. 

"1 hare no expectation that the govern- 
ment will consent to a cessation of hostili- 
ties, on the strength of the communication 
forwarded by Mr. Foster ; but all circum- 
stances considered, it may be well to avail 
ourselves of the occasion, until, we are 
belter prepared for acting with effect ; 
at all events, we can lose nothing by the 
arrangement I have consented to, it being 
explicitly understood, that my government 
will not be under any obligation to agree to 
it, unless the dispatches from the British Go- 
vernment should be such, as to induce the 
President to propose an armistice, as prepar- 
atory for negociations for peace. 1 informed 
Col. Baynes, that our government would 
readily meet any such overture from Great 
Britain, as clearly indicated a sincere dispo- 
sition for making peace on satisfactory terms; 
but after what had occurred, in relation to 
the adjustment with Mr. Erskine, it could 



"Head Quarters, Green Bush, Aug, 9, 1812. 

"Sir. — Having received from Sir George 
Prevost, Governor General and Commander 
of the British forces in Upper and Lower 
Canada, dispatches from the British Govern- 
ment, said to be of a conciliatory nature, 
which I have forwarded to Washington, and 
a letter from Sir George Prevost to me, by 
his Adjutant General Col. Baynes, proposing 
a cessation of hostilities on the frontiers : I 
have so far agreed to his proposals, as to con- 
sent that no offensive operations, shall he at- 
tempted on our part, until I shall have re- 
ceived further instructions from our govern- 
ment ; but as you received your orders direct- 
ly from the Department of JVar, I could not 
agree to extend the principle to yjur com- 
mand, but I agreed to write to you, and state 
the general facts ; and propose to you a con- 
currence in the measures, if your orders and 
situation would admit of it ; of course yon 
will act in conformity with what has been 
agreed upon in respect to the other posts on 
the frontiers, if not incompatible with your 
orders, or the arrangements made under 
them, or the circumstances under which this 
letter reaches you. Any preparation for of- 
fensive operations may be continued, and 
where it is agreed to suspend any offensive 
operations, no obstacles are to be opposed to 
the transportation of military stores. 

" In all cases where offensive operations 
cease, by virtue of the aforementioned agree- 
ment, four entire days are to be allowed, af- 
ter either party shall revoke their orders, be- 
fore any offensive operations shall commence. 

"A letter from Col Baynes, to the com- 
manding officer at Amherstburgh, has been 
forwarded by me to the commanding officer 
at Niagara, to be by him transmitted to De- 
troit. 

"The removal of any troops from Niagara 
to Detroit, while the present agreement con- 
tinues, would be improper, and incompati- 
ble with the true intent of the agreement. I 
have made no arrangement, that should have 
any effect upon your command contrary to 



your own judgment. 



I am, &c. 
H. DEARBORN. 



not be expected, that any other than the 

most explicit and authentic directions to [ Letter frQm General Van Rensselaer 

their agent in this country, would produce 



any change in our measures. 

" It is evident that a war with the United 
States, is very unpopular in Canada. 

"Col. Baynes arrived at our frontier post, 
at Plattsburg, and was conducted to this 
place, by Major Clark, an officer in the de- 
tached miiitia, of thus state, he returned this 
day with the same officer. 

I am Sir, Sec. 

If. DEARBORN. 
Letter from General Dearborn to Gen- 
eral Hull, announcing the tempora- 
ry armistice, 



acknowledging the receipt of a let- 
ter from General Dearborn relative 
to the armistice. 

"Head Quarters, Lewistown, Aug. 19, 1312, 

"■Sir. — In the night of the 17th, I received 
your letter of the fith inst. The enclosures 
have been delivered to Lieut. Col. Mjers, 
commanding at Fort George, who has since 
acknowledged the receipt of the letters, and 
pledged himself strictly to observe the terms 
of the armistice. I am, &c 

S, VAN RENSSELAER. 



s 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



It is notorious, that not any troops, passed 
■up to Detroit, except those which left Nia- 
gara, before the temporary armistice was 
agreed to at Green Bush. But Gen. Hull 
says, that Gen. Brock informed him of it at 
Detroit, after the surrender ; that this was 
impossible, the letter from General Van 
Rensselaer sufficiently shows, for he says he 
did not receive the dispatches, until the night 
of the 17th of August, which was after the, 
capture of Detroit ; but the following ex- 
tract of a letter from General Brock to Ge- 
neral Van Rensselaer, proves that he did not 
know it, until the twenty-third of August, 
when he returned to Fort Erie, on the Nia- 
gara, seven days after the surrender of Gen. 
Hull. 

"Head Quarters, Fort George, Aug. 25, 1812. 

" II was not until my arrival at Fort Erie, 
" late in the evening of the 23rf inst. that I 
" learn that a cessation of hoslillies, had been 
" agreed upon, between General Dearborn 
" and Sir George Prevost ; and I in conse- 
" quence, despatched early yesterday, an 
*' express to Amherstburgh, ordering a cessa- 
" lion of all offensive operations against the 
" United States, in that quarter, and like- 
" wise to exert my influence in restraining 
" the Indians, from committing any acts of 
" hostility, all of which I have again repea!- 
" ed this day by a second express. 

" The fortune of war having put me in 
" possession of Detroit and its dependencies 
" a small garrison has been ordered to occu- 
" py the Fort, the chief object of which was 
11 to afford protection to the inhabitants of 
" the territory. I have the honor to enclose 
" a copy of the proclamation which I issued 
" on the occasion. 1 ' 

1 have the honor to be 

Your most obedient Servt. 

ISAAC BROCK, Major General. 

I shall now introduce testimony to prove, 
mcontestibly, that it was neither to the ne- 
gligence of the government, or of General 
Dearborn, that the surrender of the North 
Western Army is to be attributed, but that 
it was the result of the lamentable imbecility, 
of the commander, who could have taken 
Fort Maiden when he first arrived; which 
he was urged to do, by his officers,and shoud 
have done, as he knew General Brock had 
been there on the 14th of June, " and he ex- 
u pected the Queen Charlotte to return with a 
" reinforcement immediately,'''' as will appear 
by his letter to the Secretary, of the 24th of 
June, which will be hereafter introduced. It 
■will appear that he could have taken Mai- 
den at any time previous to his evacuation of 
Canada, and that the enemy with an inferior 
force was suffered to cross the river, and 
inarch into the Fort at Detroit, without any 
resistance being made, during the whole of 
which time General Hull, so far from dis- 



playing the first quality of a soldier, exhibit- 
ed a most melancholy spectacle to his army^ 
of a general, on the eve of anticipated battle, 
incapable of action, from a total prostration 
of all his moral and physical energies, a chief 
without firmness to meet the tempest of tear. 

He has dwelt much on the Navai com- 
mand of Lake Erie, and endeavoured to 
show, that he expected the government 
would have taken measures to secure it to 
aid his movements. 

The fact is, he knew when he left Wash- 
ington, that such would not be the case. In 
his letter to the Secretary of War of the 6th 
of March, 1812, he observes that, " In the 
event of peace with England, I am of opinion 
that the northern frontier ought to be better 
protected than it is at present. — In the event 
of war and the object being the reduction of 
the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, I 
think it must be evident, that the establish- 
ment of an army at Detroit, sufficient to de 
fend that part of the country, control the In- 
dians, and commence operations on the weak- i 
est points of defence of the enemy, would be 
an incipient measure indispensibly necessary. 
With respect to the other points of attack I 
shall make no observations, as I probably 
shall have no agency in them. In consider- 
ing this subject, I have endeavored to divest 
myself of all local feelings, and grounded 
my observations and opinions on public con- 
siderations alone. 

Two things appear to me to be certain, one 
is that, in the event of war, the enemy will 
attempt to take possession of that country, 
with a view to obtain the assistance of the 
Indians residing in our territory ; and the 
other is, that under its present circumstances 
of defence, it will be in their power to do it. 
A part of your army now recruiting, may as 
well be recruited and disciplined at Detroit 
as at any other place. A force adequate to 
the defence of that vulnerable point would 
prevent a war with the savages and probably 
induce the enemy to abandon the Province of 
Upper Canada without opposition The na- 
val FORCE ON THE LAKES, WOULD IN 

THAT EVENT FALL INTO OUR POSSESSION 

AND WE SHOULD OBTAIN THE COMMAND OE 
THE WATERS, WITHOUT THE EXPENSE OE 
BUILDING SUCH A FORCE. 

tw The British cannot hold Upper Canada 
without the assistance of the Indians, and 
that assistance they cannot obtain, if we j 
have an adequate force in the situation I 
have pointed out. 

" There is another consideration very im- 
portant. It will do more to prevent a gene- 
ral Indian war, as far west, and beyond the 
Mississippi, than any other measure. The 
Indians cannot conduct a war, without the 
assistance of some civilized nafion. 

" The British establishment at Amherst- I 
burg is the great emporium, from which e- 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



8 



wn fhe most distant Indians receive their 
supplies. A force at the point I mentioned 
would prevent all communication of the In- 
dians with that post ; indeed, Sir, in every 
point of view in which the subject can be 
considered, it appears to me of the first im- 
portance to adopt the measure." 

From the above it is manifest, that Gen. 
Hull considered a naval force on Lake Erie 
unnecessary, provided, "there was estab- 
" lished an army at Detroit, sufficient to de- 
" fend that part of the country, control the 
" Indians, and commence operations on the 
• ; weakest points of defence of the enemy; 1 ' 
that li the British naval force on the Lakes, 
would in that event fall into our possession, 
and ive should obtain the command of the 
waters, without the expense of building such 
a firce.' 1 ' 1 

If he found, such a force, as he had con- 
templated in his report, was not furnished, 
it w.is his duty to have demanded it before he 
marched : — this he did not do ; it is therefore 
conclusive, that he had such an army en- 
trusted to his command, as he required, and 
considered it " sufficient ,-" — this he cannot 
vow gainsay, for he declined taking addition- 
al troops* when offered, before he marched 
from Ohio, declaring, he had " men enough.'''' 
The following testimony of Gen. P. B. 
Tarker is plenary, that the President had 
concluded it better, to send an army with 
Gen. Hull, than to equip a fleet. 

" I was twice at the President's with Gen. 
" Hull when the subject of a navy was talk- 
"edover; at first, it was agreed to have 
" one, but afterwards it ivas agreed to aban- 
'* don it, doubtless as inexpedient.' 1 '' 

But a short time previous to the departure 
of Gen. Hull to Detroit, he was asked by 
some one whether the naval force of the 
enemy might not annoy him, when he re- 
plied, " I will take the land, and the water 
and ships will go with it." 

That this was the tl expectation''' of the 
President, the following extract from his 
message to Congress, after the fall of De- 
troit, clearly proves, and that Gen. Hull, in 
making the above declaration, not only pro- 
claimed his own anticipations, but those of 
the national executive. 

" That the force sent to Detroit was wilh 
a general view to the security of the Michi- 
gan Territory, and in the event of a war, to 
such operations in the Uppermost Canada, 
a« would interrupt the hostile influence of 
Great Britain over the savages, obtain the 

COMMAND OF THE LAKES, 0/1 which that 

part of Canada borders, maintain co-opera- 
ting relations with such forces as might be 
most conveniently employed against other 
posts." 



" Our expectation of gaining' the com- 
mand of the Lakes by the invasion of Cana- 
da from Detroit, having been disappointed, 
measures were instantly taken to provide on 
them, a naval force,suptrior to that of the en- 
emy.'' 1 

General Hull has taken great pains to re- 
present the force he marched from Ohio, at 
only " 1200 militia, 1 '— the 4th United States 
regiment, which he states, consisted " of 
about 300," and " a few straggling volun- 
teers," — making an aggregate of, apparent- 
ly, a little over 1500 men, which force he 
endeavoured to reduce 300 by sickness, de- 
tachments left at the block houses, on his 
route, and by capture. And these patriotic 
citizens of Ohio, he has the effrontery to tra- 
duce, and brand one of its most valiant, en- 
terprising and intelligent officers, with the 
odious name of Cataline. At this immense 
distance, from these hardy and gallant sol- 
diers, and after a lapse of a dozen years, he 
has acquired the nerve to abuse them, when 
in their presence he would be as silent, as 
when " seated on a tent with his back against 
the parrapet," in the fort at Detroit. But 
by the following official letters and returns it 
appears his aggregate force, on the 27th of 
June, when he had reached Fort Findlay, 

Was TWO THOUSAND AND SEVENTY FIVE, 

and that he not only had ample means, for 
achieving the objects of the expedition, but 
was full of hope, for a successful result, 
which was prevented by his own pusilanimity. 

Extracts of Letters from Gen. Hull to 
the Secretary of War. 

"Camp Necessity, near Blanchard's Creek, } 
June 24, 1812. $ 

" Sir, — The army is now preparing to 
march, and will arrive at the foot of the ra- 
pids by the first day of July, unless prevent- 
ed by a continuation of the rains. There is 
now established on this road five strong 
block houses, garrisoned principally by the 
invalids of the army. I have stated to von 
in my former letters, the importance of this 
communication. 

"Considering the fatigue to which fhe ar- 
my has been subjected, both officers and sol- 
diers are in good health, and continue to be 
animated by a laudable spirit. 

" General Brock, the Governor of Upper 
Canada, arrived at JUalden on the ]4th i7ist. 
with one hundred British troops. On the 
lllh, he sailed for Fort Erie, in the Queen. 
Charlotte, and it is said she will return with. 
a reinforcement immediately. Large num- 
bers of Indians from all the northern nations 
are collecting at Amherstburg and at Browns- 
town, opposite the British Fort, and like- 
wise on the river Huron of lake Erie, three 



a 



10 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



H 



miles below Brownstown. They now have 
a constant communication with the British 
Garrison, and are supplied with provisions 
and every thing necessary for them. 

" In the event of hostilities, I feel a confi- 
dence that the force tender my command, will 
be superior to any which can bt opposed to it. 
It now exceeds two thousand rank and file. 
I cannot by this conveyance send an accu- 
rate return. 

" It is unnecessary for me to detail the dif- 
ficulties I have to encounter in marching the 
army through this wilderness, it is only for 
me to surmount them. 

I am very respectfully 

Yourobt. Servt. W. HULL. 1 ' 

" Camp at Fort Fiudlay, on Blanchard Fork, 35 

miles from the foot of the Rapids of the Mi 

ama, Jane 26, 1812. 

" Sir, — I have with me a considerable 
number of friendly Chiefs, and head men of 
the different Nations. The Indians as we 
progress appear to be friendly. I hope in 
three days to be at the foot of the rapids. 

" The army are in high spirits, and anima- 
ted by a laudable zeal, there exists a perfect 
harmony. 

" McArthurs Block house stands on the 
Sciola and the river is navigable for boats to 
that station. From that station to Fort 
Findlay, the distance is about twenty seven 
miles, and from this place there is a boat na- 
vigation, by the Miama to Detroit. It is my 
intention to build another block house on 
the carrying river, about half the distance 
between this and the foot of the rapids. 

" The friendly Indians are now making Ca- 
noes, and will carry a part of the baggage of 
the army, from this to the foot of the rapids. 

" Inclosed is the most correct return, that 
can be made of the army under present cir- 
cumstances. 

I am Sir, respectfully 

Your Most Obt. Servt. W. HULL." 

" Extract from the Return of the Brigade, 
" composed of Ohio Volunteers and Militia, 
a and United States Infantry, commanded 
" by Brig. General Hull of the United States 
" army. 

"4th Rcgt. of Infantry - - - 483 
Col. Find lay's Regiment of Volunteers 

and Militia 509 

Col. Cass' Regiment of Volunteers and 

Militia 483 

Col. McArthurs Regiment of Volun- 
teers and Militia ... 552 
Capt. Sloan's troop of Cincinnati Lt. 

Dragoons ..... 40 

Total - ,. - 2075 
W. HULL, Brig. Gen. 
"Fort Findlay, June 17, 1812. 
J. Jessup, Dy. Insp. anu Brig. Maj." 



Extracts of Letters from Gen. Hull to 
the Secretary of War. 

" Head-Quaiters, Detroit, July 7, 1812. 

" Sir, — The patience and perseverance, 
with which this army has sustained a march 
attended with difficulties, uncommon in their 
nature, dots honor to themselves and their 
country. 

" The British have established a post at 
Sandwich, opposite Detroit. The militia at 
Detroit have manifested a laudable and pa- 
triotic spirit. 

" In your letter of the 18th of June, you 
direct me to adopt measures for the security 
of the country, and wait for further orders,. 
I regret that I have not a larger latitude. 
I am, very respectfully, 

Your most ob'dt servant, 

W. HULL. 

" Sandwich, July 12, 1812. 

"Sin, — The Canadian militia are desert- 
ing from Maiden in large parties, — about six- 
ty came in yesterday. I send them to their 
homes and give them protection. The pro- 
bability is that the greatest part of them will 
desert in a few days. 

"The force under my command, and the 
movement into this province has had a great 
effect on the Indians. They are daily re- 
turning to their villages. A very large coun- 
cil is now sitting at Brownstown. The Wy- 
andots are at the head of it. The object is 
to induce all the nations to be neutral. I 
furnish them with provisions. The Crane, 
Walk-in-the-water, Black-hoof, Blue-Jack- 
et, &c. &c. are zealous friends of neutrality. 
I have great hopes the object will be effect- 
ed. I have reason to believe the number of 
hostile Indians is daily decreasing. The in- 
habitants have received my proclamation 
with great satisfaction, so far as information 
has been received. 

" 1 shall march the army to Maiden, as 
soon as the necessary preparations can be 
made for the siege. 

" As the British have no naval force above 
Detroit, and as we now command the river, 
I shall direct the brig Adams to be complet- 
ed and armed as soon as possible, for the 
purpose of supplying the posts at Michilli- 
mackinack, and Chicago with provisions and 
the necessary stores, provided we can ob- 
tain them here." 

I am, very respectfully, 

Your ob't serv't. W. HULL. 

" Sandwich, July 19, 1812. 
" Sir, — The army is encamped directly 
opposite Detroit. The camp is intrenched-. 
1 am mounting the 24 pounders, and making 
every preparation for the siege of Maiden. 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



I i 



" The British force, which in numbers was 
superior to the American, including militia 
and Indians, is daily diminishing. Fifty or 
sixty of the militia have deserted daily since 
the American Standard was displayed, and 
taken protection. They are now reduced 
to less than one hundred. In a day or two 
I expect the whole will desert. Their In- 
dian force is diminishing in nearly the same 
proportion. I have now a large council of 
ten or twelve nations, sitting at Brownstown, 
and I have no doubt the result will be, that 
they will remain neutral. 

" The brig Adams was launched on the 
4th of July. I have removed her to Detroit 
under cover of the cannon, and shall have 
her finished and armed as soon as possible. 
We shall then command the upper Lakes. 
I am in very great haste 
Your most obMt servant, 

W. HULL." 

By this last extract it appears that "fifty 
or sixty of the Canadian mililia had daily de- 
serted,'''' that they were " reduced to less than 
one hundrtd" and tlaat " in a day or two he 
expected the whole would desert" and as the 
British regular force did not exceed two 
hundred and fifty, and there were but from 
fifty to one hundred Indians, Gen. Hull had 
opposed to him, in fact not more than two 
hundred and fifty efficient men, exclusive of 
the Indians, — for the militia it is not proba- 
ble would have fought; still he did not think 
it prudent to risk an action, although his 
own force, as he stated, in his defence he- 
fore the court martial, was fourteen or fif- 
teen hundred, and Major Jessup, his Brigade 
Major and Inspector deposed, that " the ar- 
my moved into Canada, with sixteen or eigh- 
teen hundred men,'''' which is the most pro- 
bable number, for adding to his force of 2075 
the 50 regular troops in the Fort at Detroit, 
when he arrived, the 500 Michigan militia, 
the Michigan legion, consisting of at least 
100, and 40 armed waggoners, his aggre- 
gate was 2765, and after deducting the 300, 
which he states were left or captured on his 
route, he had a disposable force of 2465 
men. 

The Indians within the United States were 
generally friendly, and disposed to remain 
neutral, and no doubt would have done so, 
if Maiden had been taken, which event 
would also have intimidated those in Cana- 
da, and induced them to desert the British 
standard. This is evident from the follow- 
ing extracts of letters from Gen. Hull to the 
Secretary of War. 

" Head Quarters of the North-Western Army, > 
Sandwich, July 21, 1824. $ 

" Sir, — When I marched from Urbanna, 
1 proposed a general council of Indians at 



Brownstown, to be held the beginning of 
this month. I have held frequent councils 
with the chiefs, and my proposition to them 
was neutrality. 1 ' 

" I have just received the result of the 
council of nine nations, at Brownstown, 
counting the ' six nations 1 as one. They are 
unanimous for remaining neutral. The na- 
tions are the Ottawas, Chipawas, Potto wo- 
tamies, Delawares, Wyandots, Munsees, 
some Ilickapoos, Six and the ' six nations,' 
Tark or the Crane, Miere, or Walk-in-the- 
wjter, Blackhoof, Col. Lewis and Wolf 
have made great exertions to detach the In- 
dians from the British standard. At the 
close of the council, they sent speeches to 
all the nations informing them of the result. 
I have now informed them that they must 
proceed immediately to the great council at 
Piqua. Tecumseh and Marpot are the only 
chiefs of consequence remaining with the 
British . 

I am very respectfully, yours, &c. 

\VM. HULL. 11 

What attitude could the Indians have as- 
sumed more favorable to his enterprize ? — 
Could one more auspicious have been anti- 
cipated. Here we see that they were dispo- 
sed to remain, either inactive, but amicable 
spectators of the conflict, or to march as al- 
lies on his flanks. It was only necessary to 
have planted the American flag on the ram- 
parts of Maiden, to have secured the friend- 
ship or neutrality of all the savages, from 
the shores of Erie to the Lake of the Wood. 
— And what induced them to abandon his 
standard, and rally under that of Great Bri- 
tain but pusillanimous delays, and discoura- 
ging inactivity ? This ruinous procrastination, 
in the achievement of a sure and easy victo- 
ry, blasted the once sanguine expectations 
of the Indians, and their confidence in the 
martial prowess of General Hull, was daily 
shaken, and ultimately lost. 

It is said, that during the twenty-seven 
days, so unprofitable spent on the Canadian 
shores, a distinguished chief significantly 
observed to him, that, u The stumps (Fort 
" Maiden) was now bare, and the access ea- 
" sy, — but if he delayed too lung, the sprouts 
" would grow up, and he would find it diffi- 
" cult to approach it ; 15 — unfortunately this 
proved to be too true. 

By the following letter it will appear that 
seventeen days had elapsed, ten of which 
were passed in the threatened investment of 
Maiden, before he discovered that '•'•entirely 
new carriages must be built far the twenty- 
four pounders and ■mortars,' 1 '' which would 
" require at least two weeks to make the ne- 
cessary preparations. " 



12 



DEFENCE OE GENERAL DEARBORN. 



" Detroit, July 22, 5 o'clk. A. M. 

" Sir — Yesterday afternoon 1 passed over 
to this place, with Lieut. Col. Miller and one 
battalion of the 4th reg-t. for the purpose of 
accelerating the preparations for the siege of 
Maiden. 1 find that entirely new carriages 
must be built for the twenty-lour pounders 
and mortars. It will require at least two 
■weeks to make the necessary preparations. 
. It is in the power of this army to lake Maiden 
l>y storm, but it would be attended, in my opi- 
nion, with loo great a. sacrifice, under present 
circumstances. 

"• 1 am making preparations for an attempt 
on the Queen Charlotte. 

" If Maiden was in our possession, I could 
march this army to Niagara, or lark, in a 
■very short lime. 

" All the inhabitants are applying for pro- 
tection under my proclamation. 

" I am, very respectfully, yours. &c. 
W. HULL. 

Here tben we have the GeneraPs own 
words, that it was in his " power to take 
JVIalden by storm. 1 ' Why then wait for can- 
non, when he declares, kt if Maiden was in 
our possession, / could march the army to 
Niagara, or York, in a very short time.'''' 
This would have exempted him from the pi- 
tiful subterfuges to which he is now driven, 
to exculpate himself from the odium which 
lias been fixed upon his conduct. The wil- 
derness would not have been searched for 
innumerable bands of savages, to swell the 
terrific array of the enemy ; a wilful ana- 
chronism in relation to the armistice, which 
"was not known even at Niagara until after 
his surrender, would not have been resorted 
to, twelve years afterwards, by a most sud- 
den but unfortunate reminisceuce ; the long 
(dories about fleets, co-operations, and pro- 
visions, would have been unnecessary ; and 
■with his flag triumphantly waving over a con- 
quered province, he might with confidence 
have said to the President, "■ NOW grant my 
request, made when I took command of the 
army, and make me Governor of Upper Ca- 
nada.' 1 '' 

After a protracted delay of twenfy-seren 
days, he was with difficulty induced by the 
oificcrs to consent that an assault might be 
made upon Maiden, the battering cannon for 
which he had so long waited, being at last 
ready, and an order was issued, that an at- 
tack should be made on the eighth of Au- 
gust ; but instead of it, and to the astonish- 
ment and disappointment of his justly indig- 
nant army, his troops were ordered to re-cross 
the straits, without being suffered to fire a 
gun, — when if they had been allowed to 
right, for which they had evinced the gener- 
ous ardour of freemen, Maiden would have 



been taken, before the arrival of General 
Bnck. 

It is a most remarkable fact, that General 
Hull, did not call on the Secretary of war for 
any co-operation on the Niagara until the 
19th, or lor any troops to open a communi- 
cation between Detroit and Ohio until the 
29th of July. This letter of the 19th of Ju- 
ly requesting a co-operation at the Niagara, 
was not received at Washington, until the 
first of August and the Secretary had there 
anticipated his wishes by seven days, while 
that of the 29th, asking aid from the Go- 
vernors of Ohio and Kentucky, was not re- 
ceived by the Secretary of War until the 15th 
of August, only one day before he surrendered. 
and the Secretary had written the governor 
of Ohio, on the 26lh of July, (being twenty 
days before he received Gen. Hull's requisi- 
tion for support.) " to take effectual mea- 
sures to guard the roari and secure the trans- 
portation [of provision] by calling into ser- 
vice the necessary troops of the detached 
militia from Ohio, — as a regular, expeditious 
and sure conveyance of provisions must be 
had without delay. 11 — Now forsooth, the Se- 
cretary is censured for neglecting to afford 
the necessary assistance to General Hull, 
when he had taketi the earliest n.easures to 
afford it, and even before it was required. But 
how infamous does Gen. Hull appear in rela- 
tion to this subject. He calls for support and 
cowardly strikes his flag, the next day after 
the Secretary received his letter, requiring 
it; instead of taking Maiden which he could 
have done ; — instead of killing or capturing 
the whole British army, which captured him, 
which he might easily have effected; — and 
instead of defending his position, which was 
most tenable, until the assistance he de- 
manded, could raise the siege, he basely sur- 
renders his army, and then has the effrontery 
to attribute his cowardly conduct to the Se- 
cretary of War. But why comment on the 
contemptible prevarications of General Hull, 
who like a mad man raves in a fever of his 
despair, — puts at defiance the spirit and mo- 
rality of a gentleman, and with demoniac 
fury vainly strives to strike down the heralds 
of truth, and obliterate from the page of his- 
tory, the records of his infamy. 

But instead of dwelling on these circum- 
stances I shall introduce the statements of 
officers who were present, and from the facts 
they disclose, it will be evident to every 
candid reader, that the imbecilily of Gen. 
Hull was the cause of all the disasters which 
befel the North Western Army. This was 
the opinion of the court, by which he was 
tried, and sentenced to be executed, and 
which sentence, public opinion has constant- 
ly justified ; except in the Western Slates, 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



Jo 



where a lar?c portion of the citizens then 
brlievcd and still think he should have suf- 
fered the igaoniinious death of a traitor. 

Instead of being brought to trial immedi- 
ately, over two years elapsed, which was 
most favorable to the accused, as it not on- 
ly afforded him ample time to prepare for his 
offence, but whatever of improper excite- 
ment which the event has occasioned, must 
during that period have subsided, and the 
court and country could dispassionately in- 
vestigate the whole transaction, and form a 
correct opinion upon the facts disclosed. 

Letter from Col. Cass, now Governor 

of the Michigan Territory, to the 

Secretary of War. 

" Washington, Sept. 10, 1812. 

Sir, — Having been ordered on to this place 
by Col. M'Arthur, for the purpose of com- 
municating to the government, such parti- 
culars respecting the expedition lately com- 
manded by Brig. Gen. Hull, and its disas- 
trous result, as might enable them correctly 
to appreciate the conduct of the officers and 
men, and to develope the causes which pro- 
duced so foul a stain upon the national cha- 
racter, I have the honor to submit to your 
consideration the following statement. 

When the forces landed in Canada, they 
landed with an ardent zeal, and stimulated 
with the hope of conquest. No enemy ap- 
peared within view of us, and had an imme- 
diate vigorous attack been made upon JVial- 
den, it would doubtless have fallen an easy 
victory. I knew General Hull afterwards 
declared, he regretted this attack had not 



been made, and he had every reason to be- i a n extract: 



ing our march. He declared to me that he 
considered himself pledged to lead the army 
to Maiden. The ammunition was placed in 
the waggons, the cannon were embarked on 
board the floating batteries, and every requi- 
site article was prepared. The spirit and 
zeal, the ardor and animation displayed by 
the officers and men on learning the near 
accomplishment of their wishes, were a sure 
and sacred pledge, that in the hour of trial 
they would not be found wanting in duty to 
their country and themselves. But a change 
of measures, in opposition to the opinions 
and wishes of all the officers, was adopted 
by the General. The plan of attacking Mai- 
den was abandoned, and instead of acting 
offensively, we broke up our camp, evacuat- 
ed Canada, and re-crossed the river in the 
night, without even the shadaw of an enemy 
to injure us. We left to the tender mercy 
of the enemy the miserable Canadians who 
had joined us, and the protection we afford- 
ed them, was but a passport to vengeance. 
This fatal and unaccountable step dispirited 
the troops, and destroyed the little confi- 
dence, which a series of timid, irresolute and 
indecisive measures had left in the command- 
ing officer. 

" ADout the 10th of August the enemy re- 
ceived a reinforcement of four hundred men. 
On the 12th, the commanding officers of 3 
regiments (the fourth was absent) were in- 
formed through a medium which admitted no 
doubt, that the General had stated that A ca- 
pitulation would be necessary. They on 
the same day addressed to Governor Meigs, 
of Ohio, a letter, of which the following is 



lieve success would have crowned his ef- 
forts. The reasons given for delaying our 
operations, were, to mount our heavy can- 
non, and to afford to the Canadian militia, 
time and opportunity to quit an obnoxious 
service. In the course of two weeks, the 
number of their militia who were embodied, 
had decreased by desertion, from six hun- 
dred to one hundred men ; and in the course 
of three weeks, the cannon were mounted, 
the ammunition fixed, and every preparation 
made for an immediate investment of the 
fort. At a council, at which were present 
all the field officers, and which was held two 
days before our preparations were complet- 
ed, it was unanimously agreed to make an 
immediate attempt to accomplish the object 
of the expedition. If by waiting two days 
we could have the service of our heavy ar- 
tillery, it was agreed to wait, if not, it was 
determined to go without it, and attempt 
the place by storm. This opinion appeared 
to correspond with the views of the Gene- 
ral, and the day was appointed forcommenc- 



11 Believe all the bearer w ill tell you. Be- 
lieve it, however it may astonish you, as 

much as if told by one of us. Even a c ■ 

is talked of by the . The bearer will 

fill the vacancy.' 1 

"The doubtful fate of this letter rendered 
it necessary to use circumspection in its de- 
tails, and therefore the blanks were left. 
The word ' capitulation 1 will fill the first, and 
' commanding general 1 the other. As no ene- 
my was near us, and as the superiority of 
our force was manifest, we could see no ne- 
cessity for capitulating, nor any propriety in 
alluding to it. We therefore determined, in 
the last resort, to incui the responsibility of 

DIVESTING THE GENERAL OF HIS COM- 
MAND. This plan was eventually prevented 
by two of the commanding officers of regi- 
ments being ordered upon detachments. 

On the 13th, the British took a position 
opposite to Detroit, and began to throw up 
works % During that and the two following 
days, 'they pursued their object without in- 
terruption and established a battery for two 



14 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



18 pounders and an 8 inch howitzer. About 
sun-set on the evening of the 14th, a detach- 
ment of 350 men, from the Regiment com- 
manded by Col. McArthur and myself, was 
ordered to march to the river Raisin, to es- 
cort the provisions, which had lor some time 
remained there, protected hy a party under 
the command of Capt. Brush. 

On Saturday the 15th, a flag of truce ar- 
rived from Sandwich, bearing a summons from 
General Brock, for the surrender of the town 
and fort of Detroit, stating ho could no lon- 
ger restrain the fury of the savages. To thi* 
an immediate and spirited refusal was re- 
turned. About 4 o'clock, their batteries be- 
gan to play upon the town. The fire was 
returned, and continued without interruption, 
and with little effect, till dark — their shells 
were thrown till 11 o'clock. 

At day light, the firing on both sides re- 
commenced; about the same time the enemy 
began to land troops at the Spring Wells, 
three miles below Detroit, protected by two 
of their armed vessels. Between .6 and 7 
o'clock they had effected their landing, and 
immediately took up their line of march ; 
they moved in a close column of platoons, 
twelve in front, upon the bank of the river. 

The 4th regiment was stationed in the fort; 
the Ohio volunteers, and a part of the Michi- 
gan militia, behind some picket, in a situa- 
tion in ivhich the whole flank of the enemy 
would have been exposed. The residue of the 
Michigan militia were in the upper part of 
the town, to resist the incursions of the sa- 
vages. Two 24 pounders, loaded with grape 
shot, were posted on a commanding eminence, 
ready to sweep the advancing column. In this 
situation the superiority of our position was 
apparent ; and our troops, in the eager ex- 
pectation of victory, awaited the approach 
of the enemy. Not a sigh of discontent 
broke upon the ear ; not a look of cowardice 
viet the eye. — Every man expected a proud 
day for his country, and each was anxious 
that his individual exertion should contribute 
to the general result. 

When the head of their column arrived ! 
within about five hundred yards of our line, I 
orders were received from General Hull for j 
the whole to retreat to the fort, and for the > 
twenty-four pounders not to open upon the 
enemy. One universal burst of indignation | 
was apparent upon the receipt of this order. ' 
Those, whose conviction was the deliberate j 
result of a dispassionate examination of pass- j 
ing events, saw the folly and impropriety of | 
crowding 1100 men into a little work, which 
300 could fully man, and into which the shot 
and shells of the enemy were continually 
falling. The fort was in this manner filled ; 
the men were directed to stack their arms, 
and scarcely was an apportunity afforded of 



moving. Shortly after a white flag was hung 
out upon the walls. A British officer rode up 
to enquire the cause. A communication pass- 
ed between the commanding Generals, which 
ended in the capitulation submitted to you. 
In entering into this capitulation the General 
took council from his own feelings on- 
ly. Not an officer was consulted, not one 
anticipated a surrender till he saw the white 
flag displayed. Even the women were in- 
dignant at so shameful a degradation of the 
American character, and all felt as they 
should have felt, but he who held in his 
hands the reins of authority. 

" Our morning report of that morning made 
our effective men present, fit for duty, 1060, 
without including the detachment before al- 
luded to, and without including 300 of the 
Michigan militia on duty. About dark on 
Sunday evening the detachment sent to es- 
cort the provisions, received orders from Ge- 
neral Hull, to return with as much expedi- 
tion as possible. About ten o'clock the next 
day they arrived within sight of Detroit. 
Had a firing been heard, or any resistance 
visible, they would have immediately advan- 
ced and attacked the rear of the enemy. 
The situation in which this detachment was 
placed, although the result of accident, was 
the best for annoying the enemy and cutting 
off his retreat, that could have been select- 
ed. With his raw troops, enclosed between 
two fires, and no hopes of succour, it is ha- 
zarding little to say, that very few would 
have escaped. 

'- 1 have been informed by Col. Findlay, 
who saw the return of the Quarter Master 
General, the day after the surrender, that 
their whole force of every description. white, 
red and black, was 1030. They had twenty 
nine platoons, twelve in a platoon, of men 
dressed in uniform. Many of these were evi- 
dently Canadian militia. The rest of their 
militia increased their white force to about 
700 men. The number of their Indians could 
not be ascertained with any degree of pre- 
cision ; not many were visible. And in the 
event of an attack upon the town and fort, 
it was a species of force which could have 
afforded no material advantage to the ene- 
my. 

" In endeavoring to appreciate the motives, 
and to investigate the causes, which led to 
an event, so unexpected and dishonorable, it 
is impossible to find any solution in the rela- 
tive strength of the contending parties, or in 
the measures of resistance in our power. 
That we were far superior to the enemy ; 
that upon any ordinary principles of calcula- 
tion, we could have defeated them, the 
wounded and indignant feelings of every 
man there, will testify. 

" A few davs before the surrender I was 






DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



Id 



informed by Gen. Hull we had 400 rounds 
of 24 pound shot fixed, and about 100,000 
cartridges made. — *Ve surrendered with the 
fort 40 barrels of powder and 2500 stand of 
arms. 

'• The state of our provisions has not been 
generally understood. On the day of the 
surrender we had fifteen days of provisions 
of every kind. — Of meat there was plenty in 
the country, and arrangements had been 
made for purchasing and grinding the flour. 
It was calculated that we could readily pro- 
cure three months provisions, independent of 
150 barrels of flour, and 1300 head of cattle 
which had been forwarded from the state of 
Ohio, which remained at the river Raisin, 
under Captain Brush, within reach of the 
army. 

I •' But had we been totally destitute of 
provisions, our duty and our interest, un- 
doubtedly was, to fight. The enemy in- 
vited us to meet him in the field. 

" By defeating him, the whole country 
would have been open to us, and the object j 
of our expedition gloriously and successfully 
obtained. If we had been defeated we had 
nothing to do but to retreat to the fort, and I 
make the best defence which circumstances 
and our situation rendered practicable. But 
basely to surrender Without firing a gun I — 
tamely to submit without raising a bayonet! 
— disgracefully to pass in review before an 
enemy, as inferior in the quality, as in the 
number of his forces, were circumstances, 
which excited feelings of indignation more 
«asily felt than described. To see the whole 
of our men flushed with the hope of victory, 
eagerly awaiting the approaching contest; to 
see them afterwards dispirited, hopeless, and 
desponding, at least five hundred shedding 
tears, because they were not allowed to meet 
their country's foe, and to fight their coun- 
try's battles, excited sensation, which no A- 
nierican before has ever had cause to feel, 
and which, I trust in God, will never again 
be felt, while one man remains to defend the 
standard of the Union. 

" I am expressly authorized to state, that 
Col- McArihur, Col. Findlay, and Lieutenant 
Col. Miller, view this transaction in the light 
which I do. They know and feel, that no 
circumstance in our situation, none in that of 
the enemy, can excuse a capitulation so dis- 
honorable and so unjustifiable. This too is 
the universal sentiment among the troops, 
and I shall be surprised to learn that there is 
one man who thinks it was necessary to 
sheath his sword, or lay down his musket. 

u I was informed by General Hull, the 
morning after the capitulation, that the Bri- 
tish forces consisted of 1800 regulars, and 
that he surrendered to prevent the effusion of 



human blood. That he magnified their re- 
gular force nearty five fold there can be no 
doubt. Whether the philanthropic reason, 
assigned by him, is a sufficient justification 
for surrendering a fortified town, an army, 
and territory, is for the Government to deter- 
mine. — Confident 1 am, that had the courage 
and conduct of the General been equal to 
the spirit and zeal of the troops, the event 
would have been as brilliant and successful 
as it now is disastrous and dishonorable. 
" 1 have the houor to to be yours, &c. 

LEWIS CASS, Col. 3d Reg. 
Ohio Volunteers. 

The following testimony is extracted from 
the trial of General Hull, as reported by Col. 
Forbes. 

Extracts from the testimony of Gener- 
al Cass. 
General Cass further said, that when he 
left Detroit, for the river Raisin, the troops 
were in good health and spirits ; that is, to 
meet the enemy; but were unpleasantly si- 
tuated. Being asked by the court what he 
meant by an unpleasant situation, the wit- 
ness answered, that the officers and men had 
lost all confidence in the commanding officer 
— that this was not a matter of mere private 
opinion, but was the general expression and 
feeling. The witness said, that the charac- 
ter of the Michigan mililia stood high. That 
when the detachment approached Detroit on 
the south-west part, and afterwards struck 
the river at Spring Wells, and marched up 
the river to Detroit, on the morning of the 
16th of August, when they heard of the sur- 
render, it would have been in the rear of the 
British ; which is a circumstance the British 
had been apprehensive of." 

Testimony of Major J. Snelling, of the 
4th U. S. Infantry. 
" That towards sundown (on the 15th) 
witness was ordered with 47 or 50 men, and 
a field piece (4 pr.) to Spring Wells ("about 
3 miles distant) as a picquet guard. — He had 
also 3 dragoons, to serve as expresses, in case 
of need — that the Queen Charlotte on the 
same day had moved up the river, directly 
opposite to the Springwells ; that the order* 
witness received were, to take a post at 
Springwells, report any movements of the 
enemy which he might discover, and return 
by break of day, so as to avoid the fire of 
the Queen Charlotte, which lay in the mid- 
dle of the channel — that the shore was much 
higher than the deck of that vessel, and the 
river at Springwells about f of a mile broad; 
that the detachment could have moved by 
other routes, but not the artillery, and that 



ltf 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



the road was directly on the shore. That 
witness sent a dragoon to communicate with 
Gen. Hull ; that Col. Taylor and Major Jes- 
sup visited Springwells, and were consulted 
on the expediency of having a 24 pr. brought, 
to be posted on the artificial mound, with a 
view to dislodge the Queen Charlotte from 
her moorings ; that another dragoon was des- 
patched to acquaint Gen. Hull verbally, that 
those officers coincided in opinion with the 
witness that a 24 pounder would do well, 
and that they recommended it to Gen. Hull. 
— that the dragoon returned with an answer, 
that a 24 pounder could not be transported 
over the bridge ; which bridge, witness says, 
was about 12 or 14 ft. high, and 8 or 10 yds. 
long, and built of wood — that Captain Hull 
was also there and prop#sed recommending 
it to Gen. Hull to send a 24-pounder. That 
witness heard of no military movements du- 
ring the night ; he heard oars, which he sup- 
posed were in two or three boats passing 
from the Queen Charlotte to the Brig Hun- 
ter or to the enemy's shore. That witness 
thought, with the other officers, that a 24- 
ponnder could have been transported across 
the bridge. That witness returned to the 
fort at Detroit about dawn of day, soon af- 
ter which the cannonading and bombard- 
ment commenced from the enemy, and were 
returned by the American batteries on the 
river, but not from the fort. That a- 
bout 7 o'clock in the morning the British 
were seen from the ramparts, crossing the 
river, which was reported by witness to Ge- 
neral Hull : that no resistance, which wit- 
ness knows of, was made either to their land- 
ing or to their approach — that two shots took 
effect on us, one of which killed two com- 
missioned officers and a surgeon, and wound- 
ed another surgeon ; the other killed two 
privates. That soon afterwards Capt. Hull 
was sent across the river with a flag of truce, 
and witness was ordered by Gen. Hull to 
proceed to Col. Findlay, who was stationed 
with Major Denny and his Regt. about four 
hundred yards in advance towards Spring- 
wells, and direct him to retreat to the fort. 
That the artillery, ammunition, and part of 
the 4th Regt. were at the batteries, two of 
which were on the banks of the river, the 
other in Judge Woodward's garden. — The 
Michigan militia were in the rear of the 
town. That witness delivered the order to 
Col. Findlay, who appeared unwilling to 
obey it by marching his Regt. into the fort. 
That after this service, witness repaired to 
the battery commanded by Major Anderson, 
where a British officer, Lieut. Dicer, of the 
Quarter-master's department, arrived with a 
man bearing a nag of truce, to know why 
our flag was sent over the river ; that wit- 



ness replied he believed it had been s« 
with a message from Gen. Hull to Genei 
Brock, who was supposed to be on the otl 
side of the river. That witness then se 
Lieut. Hull on horseback to Gen. Hull, w 
returned with a sealed paper from Gene 
Hull, addressed to Gen. Brock, with dire 
tions to witness to proceed to Gen. Bro 
with the same. That witness carried a 
delivered the note to Gen. Brock, who m< 
two hundred yards in advance of the he 
of his column, without any advance-gua 
That the enemy was then near the house 
which Dr. Henry resided, about £ of a m 
or a mile from the fort at Detroit 

41 Questio7i. What were the contents 
the note ? 

" Answer. I cannot now speak with c 
tainty: but my best recollection is that 
contained these words, u Sir,I agree to sum 
der the fort and town of Detroit ;" and 1 
signed " William Hull," Brig. General U] 
ted States Army. I considered at the ti 
that it was a surrender without stipulati 
The witness would not undertake to 
that what he had stated was the whole s 
stance of the note ; but he believed it wa 

" Witness then proceeded in the us 
manner to state further, and said, thatCa 
Hull, who had been sent over the river w 
a flag, did not return until after the Bril 
flag was hoisted. — That Gen. Hull ca 
within a few paces of the Marquee in wh 
Col. M'Donald and Capt. Glegg were 
Gen. Hull was conversing with Col. Fi 
lay, who spoke with considerable warm 
that witness did not hear distinctly, but 
derstood that he, Col. Findlay, would h 
nothing to do with the capitulation — T 
Lt. Col. Miller and Capt. Brush were din 
ed to confer, and did Confer with the Bri 
officers with respect to the terms of the 
pitulation — that Lieut. Col. Miller at 
time had a violent fit of the ague and lay 1 ' 
the ground while the officers were enga' 1 ' 
in drawing up the articles of capituiati 
that many of the American officers assem 
near the marquee, when Gen. Hull desi 
them to retire ; and that witness, who 
one of them, retired accordingly.'''' 

1,1 Witness then stated, that during 
cannonade of the 16th, he saw Gen. ! 
get up once for some particular purpose, 
perhaps twice ; and that during the res 
of the time, he was sitting on an old tent 
something of that sort, on the ground, vjiS 
his back against the ramparts, and under 
certain nearest the enemy." 

■' Question. Were the appearance, rJiit 
duct and conversation of Gen. Hull suclffi 
to induce a belief that he was under thep 
fluence of personal fear? 



hi 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN, 



17 



''•Answer. I have always understood that 
le passion of fear is indicated by certain 
)oks and actions ; and, judging from past 
nowledge on that subject, [thought him 
nder the influence of fear; his whole con- 
uct made that impression on my mind at 
le time. — The reasons that induced me to 
raw that conclusion were : that the Gener- 
l selected the safest place in the fort for his 
at, on an old tent on the ground and leaned 
;ainst the ramparts between the guard house 
id. the gate ; his voice trembled when he 
take — he apparently unconsciously filled his 
■outh ivith tobacco, putting in quid after quid, 
ore than he generally did ; the spittle color- 
l with tobacco juice, ran from his mouth, on 
\s neckcloth, beard, cravat and vest — he tvould 
ib Ihe lower part of his face, which was ap- 
irently covered witlt spittle; he was repeat- 
lly informed that the enemy were crossing 
e river, but he took no measures to oppose 
em, with which I am acquainted." 
" The witness then proceeded to state, 
at the American troops were called into J 
e fort, which was very much crowded, he- 
re the articles of capitulation were signed. ' 
lat when General Hull was informed that | 
e enemy were crossing, he made no other 
swer to Lieut. Peckham (to the knowledge ! 
witness) than " are they coming ?" That j 
tness stood at the corner of a slip leading i 
the gate of the fort, and endeavoured to j 
iint the British troops on entering the fort 
that the troops in advance were the 41st, 
platoons of 14 files, as well as the York 
litia volunteers, twenty-nine platoons, two 
ep, in red coats — that the militia platoons 
nsisted of no more than seven or eight 
:s, and composed one third of the whole 
ce — probably seven hundred and fifty 
lites — of which the remaining two thirds 
re regulars and uniform militia. Wifness 
iposes the Indian force to have been more 
in one hundred and fifty, although he only 
v about that number drawn up to fire a 
ute, as he understood. 
' Witness says that the spirit of the Ameri- 
i troops to meet the enemy, was in his 
inion of the most laudable kind, and he 
ieves pervaded the whole of them." 
Gleneral Hull has now meanly attempted 
pervert the statement of Major Snelling, 
fere the Court Martial, as to the numbers 
the enemy, by a punctuation of his oion, 
i misquoting him, making him say, " that 
! militia platoons [which were in the rear] 
isisted of no more than seven or eight files, 
1 composed one third part of the whole 
ce, probably seven hundred and fifty 
lites; of which the remaining two thirds 
re regulars and uniform militia." After 
i- mutilnting the quotation by his own 
aoias and semicolons, which alter the 



sense of the entire period as printed in the 
report of the trial, he has the effrontery to 
attempt to make it appear by Major Snelling's 
testimony, that the " white force' 1 '' of the 
enemy was 2200 men, when Major Snelling's 
words are, that the " whole force," was 
" probably seven hundred and fifty whiles' 1 ' 1 — • 
the words "probably seven hundred and fifty 
whites" being inserted by way of parenthesis, 
and alluding to the "whole force," as ap* 
pears in the extract from his testimony which 
I have given, and not to the militia. This 
too was General Hull's construction at the 
trial, for he says in his defence, before the 
Court, " Major Snelling, who says he made 
some attempt to count the enemy's force, 
supposes that there were no more than seven 
hundred and fifty whiles.'''' But not satisfied 
with this horrible distortion of facts, he 
assails the military reputation of Major Snel- 
ling, and brands a gallant officer with the 
vile epithet of ' Coward,' which a Court 
Martial has given to general Hull, as a cog- 
nomen. 

It is tedious to unravel the prevarication . 
and gross attempts of Gen. Hull, Ihnwghouf. 
all his numbers to misrepresent, equivocate 
and distort fact', and I have only introduced 
this instance to illustrate his character and 
shall let most of the others of a like import, 
remain as everlasting blots on his escutcheon, 
as a soldier, and as a gentleman. 

Extract from the testimony of Capt. 
Samuel M'Cormick, of the U. S. Ran- 
gers. 

" That he was at Detroit at the time of 
the capitulation— that Col. Findlay's regiment 
was encamped in the rear of the town, on 
the 15th, when the cannonading commenc- 
ed—that they lay on their arms all night, 
and had a chain of sentinels posted nearly 
three hundred yards in advance— that Capt, 
Kemper, of the waggoners with about thirty 
volunteers, formed a picket guard along a 
fence — that it was expected the savages 
would attack from the woods — that Capt. 
Robinson, with his company, was in a mea- 
dow — that during the night lie received no 
orders from Gen. Hull— that he was not pre- 
sent whsn Col. Find lay, received orders from 
Gen. Hull on the 1Gth August, to return, 
but joined Col. Findlay after he had received 
that order — that the Col. appeared dissatisfi- 
ed and distressed, and almost determined 
not to obey it— that witness had halted two 
of the companies, when the Col. rode up to 
him and told him to march on — that between 
9 and 10, A. M. when ordered to halt near 
the fort, on the outside, Col. Findlay and wit- 
ness dismounted from their horses, went into 
the fort together, and enquired for Gen. Hull, 
who was seen sitting on something on tha 



18 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



ground with his back to the ramparts — that 1 thinks, the landing place at Springwells the 
Col. Findlay asked Gen. Hull "What in best and uiost commanding place (or a batte- 
hell am I ordered here for ?" to which ques- | tery on Detroit river — one could have been 
tion the General, in a low trembling tone ofi erected there by a few hands in a few hours 
■voice, replied, stating the numher of men | — such a battery would have commanded 
killed in the fort (witness thinks three men) the plain within cannon reach — there was 
that a surrender would be best — that he none erected from the 11th to the 16th of 
could procure better terms from Gen. Brock August, nor at any other time — that when 
at that time than if he waited a storm — that the army marched from Spring wells to De- 
the reply of vjol. Findlay was " terms ! Dam- troit, it took a back route, which General 
nation ! we can beat them on the plain, 1 Hull stated was for the sake of preventing 
did not come here to capitulate ; I came the enemy from ascertaining his numbers, 
to fio-ht." — Col. Findlay enquired where Col. and for concealing his movements from 
Miller was, turned and left the General — a Springwells — that the army encamped at the 
moment afterwards I left him. The Gene- back of Detroit, and continued, he believes, 
ral appeared much agitated, and in as great till the morning of the 12th July, when it 
fear as I ever saw any person — he had -used j crossed the river in boats, in two divisions — 
so much tobacco as to have the lower part ofi the 4th Reg. and Col. Cass's formed the first 
his face much discolored by it. division, witness's regiment and that of Col. 

" Capt. M'Cormick, continuing his evi- Findlay's were in the second division — he 
dence, stated that the troops that were out believes there were not boats sufficient to 
on the lines marched into the fort about the transport the whole army at one time — that 
time the British officers, General Hull, and 



Colonels Miller and Brush went to the 
officer's quarters — that to the best of his re- 
collection, Colonel Findlay's regiment was on 
that day between 430 and 460 strong, who 
marched into the fort — that there were under 
arms, outside of the fort, (and those who also 
marched in) including Col. Findlay's regi- 
ment, Major , from Col M' Arthur's regi- 



after landing on the opposite shore nearly 
opposite Detroit, the expectations of the icit* 
ness were that the army would have proceeded 
on towards Maiden ; it was however ordered 
to encamp, which was done ; and in that 
place the main body of the army remained 
until it recrossed to Detroit. 

u That frequent calls of officers command- 
regiments were made by General Hull, 



merit, the company of waggoners belonging respecting measures to be pursued, at least, 



to captain Kemper, part of Col. Cass' regi- 
ment under Capt. Sanderson, and a detach- 
ment of Michigan Militia under Lt. Brady, a 
number which he estimated at between tiOO 
and 1000 men— that the fort was very much 



upon an average, once a day, while the army 
was on the Canada side ; at which meetings 
General Hull was frequently urged to viove 
on to river Jlux Canards, or doicn to Maiden 
— witness thinks General Hull said he only 



crowded — that the spirit of the men formed j waited to have some catinon mounted to 
outside of the fort was evinced by their say- | make a breach, in the enemys works at Mal- 
iug, they would have an opportunity of reveng- j den. That about the time witness returned 
ins themselves for the injuries they had re- \ from river Thames, or French, the General 
ceived, by killing most of the enemy — that , stated that he supposed cannon would be 
many of the private soldiers were seen to shed ' ready in a few days — sometimes he said in 
tears in abundance on receiving the orders of, two days, sometimes in four, at others in a 
surrender, that the picket fence, behind week, and so -on — plans were frequently pro- 
which Col Findlay's regiment was posted, , posed for taking down the cannon (24 pr.) 
was generally so close as that the rails nearly i to river Aux Canards — three floating batte- 
touched each other, and many of the men j ries were commenced, two completed, but 
employed tomahawks to open a space for ! witness does not recollect whether before or 
their muskets — that on the evening of the ; after the fall of Mackanac — that the opin- 
15th, the quarter-master supplied Col. Find- I ions of the Gen. and of the field officers 
lay's Reg. with as many cartridges as the j were frequently taken in the councils, and 
boxes could contain — that he never heard j that Gen. Hull declared that he apprehend- 
any complaints of the quantity of provisions ', ed that the fall of Mackanac would induce 
or ammunition, though he did of the quali- ; many Indians to descend the lakes, or to 
ty ; nor were an}' apprehensions entertained • shower in from the upper lakes — He thinks 
of a scarcity, there being in the town plenty [ it was at that time that General Hull \ ro- 



of salt, of pork, and sheep, grain and slock. 
u Extract from the testimony of Brig. 
General Duncan M' Arthur. 
" General M'Arthur, then continuing hi 



posed to erect a picket fort on the Canada 
side ; but the officers thought and it was ur- 
ged by them to Gen. Hull, that it ivould be 
more advtseuble to make an immediate attempt 

narratiVe^'said tbal hr"thoughtVTnd° still I "P°» -^" Wen than io dda 'J a lon S iime to 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



1& 



trect the fort; and they frequently stated i army recrossed. The determination was 
to him that there could be no doubt of success,} communicated to the platoon officers, and 



as there was frequent information, by deser 
ters, of the enemy's force at Maiden, as well 
as concurrent reports of the militia, some 
of whom said that the regular force of the 
British did not exceed two hundred, others 
stated two hundred and twenty — these militia 
could never give the exact amount of the 
Indian force, but supposed that for the first 
fortnight it was from fifty to one hundred — 
they also stated that, at the time of General 
Hull's crossing to Canada, the militia force 
was about five or six hundred, but that they 
Were daily deserting, and there was no doubt 
but that they would leave Maiden upon the 
Jirst appearace of our army. 

" brigadier General M'Arthur then stated, 
that he was afterwards sent for by General 
Hull, who said he intended to leave the wit- 
ness with his regiment to occupy the picket 
fort which he so cordially despised, and that 
he himself, with the residue of the army 
would return to Detroit — that on this witness 
became warm, and in his reply to the Gen- 
eral stated the hardship of his regiment be- 
ing left to be sacrificed to the enemy, and 
said that if it were his order, he would obey 
it, but thought it would be better to have a 
force detailed — that witness stated, and it 
was admitted, by the General that the work 
could not be defended against cannon, but 
only against small arms, and there was no 
doubt the British would bring cannon — he 
recollects telling the prisoner that he thought 
the leaving a detachment there could only 
produce disgrace to the officer, though it 
might cover his own disgrace in recrossi7ig to 
Detroit ; upon which General Hull made in 
reply an insinuation of cowardice in the wit- 
ness, who became warm and felt much hurt 
by the insinuation, and said that if General 
Hull would advance to Maiden, he would 
prove that he could go as far as the General 
tr any of his friends could go or would dare to 
go — that witness then retired, and in about 
an hour after, an orderly came to desire wit- 
ness to repair to General Hull's quarters, 
where he was met by the other commanders 
of regiments ; on which occasion General 
Hull stated that he had called them together 
for the purpose of adopting their opinions as 
his own — that as the officers including his 
own son and his son-in-law differed in opin- 
ion from him, respecting the recrossing the 
river, lie would move against Maiden at the 
head of his troops, " and,'''' said he, '•'■in 
whatever manner the affair may terminate, I 
never will reflect upon you gentlemen." Im- 
mediately after which an order was issued 
to prepare for an attack upon Maiden — wit- 
ness thinks this was on the day before the 



by them to the troops, who appeared highly 
pleased at the confident expectation enter- 
tained of attacking the enemy — These pre- 
parations were continued until about the 
middle of the next day, when General Hull 
again sent for the field officers, and stated 
to them, that notwithstanding the respect he 
had for their opinions, he considered himself 
responsible for the movements and the ulti- 
mate fate of that army t and that/tt had come 
to a determination to recross the river, for the 
protection of the fort aiid town of Detroit, 
to which witness replied, " well, General, 
if it is your opinion, it must be so, but I must 
beg leave to decline giving any further opinion 
as to the movement of the army.'''' Upon the 
promulgation of this order to the men, they 
appeared dispirited and dejected, and seemed 
regardless of what they did. The army re- 
crossed according to order and took post at 
the back of the town of Detroit." 
" Extract from the testimony of Lt. Col. 
Thomas B. Vanborne. 



" That on the morning of the 16th of Au- 
gust, Colonel Findlay received a verbal or- 
der by Captain Hull to form his regiment in 
line, in advance, and South west of Fort De- 
troit, in the rear of the picket fence, with 
Col. Cass' regiment on the right, and Major 
Deunie on the left, with a company of thirty 
waggoners and some citizens ; and that the 
whole force on the line amounted to betiveen 
eight and nine tiundr d, but what the force 
ot the Michigan militia was he could not say 
— that the picket fence was about seven feet 
high and completely covered the men.'''' 

" Major bnelling came out to the line and 
asked for Col. Findlay ; the cannonading 
had then ceased, and witness then, for the 
first time, saw the white flag on the fort — 
that Major Snelling addressed himself to wit- 
ness, saying, ' where is Col. Findlay 2' and 
that Col. Findlay's regiment must retire into 
the fort ; that a flag was out and must not 
be violated — that Col. Findlay did not ap- 
pear satisfied at this order, but said it must 
be obeyed ; and then ordered witness to 
march his battalion into the fort and slack 
arms, which was done." 

u Witness thinks he saw General Hull near 
the door of one of the rooms in the same si- 
tuation that .Vlajor Snelling stated, and from 
his wliole appearance, was immediately im- 
pressed ivith the idi a that he was under the 
influence of fear ; and at the time, communi- 
cated hts thoughts to some of the other offi- 
cers. Witness says that some time after Gen. 
Hull invited the officers into the room, he 
saw Col. M'Donald and Captain Glegg ride 



ifO 



DEFEXCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



up to the fort and come into the room, but 
he does not know if Gen. Hull was in a mar- 
quee or not, or where the terms of capitula- 
tion were made or agreed upon — he says 
that the fort was very much crowded. Wit- 
ness further says that about the 20th or 25th 
•'uly, he was officer of the day, and when, 
as was customary, he called on General Hull 
for orders, he, General Hull, estimated the 
regular force at Maiden at about two hundred, 
:tnd that of the militia to have been original- 
ly above five hundred ; but said that, from 
the best information he could obtain, it was 
then reduced to about two hundred and .fifty, 
and that they were leaving them daily — the 
Indian force he at the same time computed 
at about three hundred.' 1 '' 
" Extract from the testimony of Major 
William A. Kemble, of the 26th U.S. 

Infantry. 
" That at the time witness went to make 
his report [about the 6th of August] he saw 
Col. Brush at the General's epiarters, togeth- 
er with three young men, who had been ta- 
ken prisoners, and confined at Maiden, and 
from whence, they said, they had been releas- 
ed on parole — one of these men was a car- 
penter, and had worked at Maiden — that 
this man stated (as well as witness recol- 
lects) that the British had about 270 regu- 
lars, of whom from 200 to 220 were fit for 
duty, and 150 militia ; and as to Indians (of 
whom the British themselves could not tell (he 
exact amount) he supposed they were from 
150 to 300, and could not exceed the latter 
number — they also stated that when Colonels 
Cass and Miller had routed the British pic- 
ket, they were all in confusion and prepar- 
ing to embark — (this account was confirmed 
by the other two young men) — witness thinks 
Getieral Hull asked whether the British had 
strengthened the fort at Maiden, and that 
the answer was in the negative.' 1 

" Witness s.'.ys, that on the loth August, 
(as he recollects) he was officer of the day 
at Detroit, waited on Gen. Hull and found 
him and Col. Brush, sitting on the settee en- 
gaged in close conversation, rather low — 
that the General turned the conversation to 
provisions, alluding to some wheat which was 
then hauling in — that Col. Brush asked what 
quantity of public provisions there was, when 
the General replied, about a month's, and 
then asked the Col. whether the country 
around could not afford a sufficient quantity 
of provisions for the army ; to which Col. 
Brush answered he thought there would be 
enough for two months — witness also thinks 
that it was on the 14th August, be saw Gen. 
Hull at Col. M'Arthur's marquee, with Col. 
Bru&h and other officers — that witness was 



about retiring but was called back by Cen. 
Hull, who invited him to a seat, and asked 
him (in connexion with the conversation then 
passing, which was on the subject of the ene- 
my's moving on the other side with their ar- 
tillery) " What would you do?" — "Sir," the 
witness replied, "I would fire upon them" — 
upon which General Hull said, " But, Sir, 
ai.iut lie ammunition ! wculd it be proper to 
expend it under these circumstances ?" 

Extract from James Dalliby's testimo- 
ny, of the Ordnance Department. 

"That he belonged to the Northwestern 
army, under the command of General Hull, 
in 15)12, was at Detroit on the 16th of Au- 
gust, and was there previous to the war — 
went there in. 1811, and had never been ab- 
sent — that he commanded the battery (the 
uppermost of the three batteries) in the town 
— he says that the following is an account of 
the ordnance at Detroit, viz. 
9 24 pounders, 7 mounted, 2 unmounted. 
8 12 do. Iron,4 do. 4 do. 
5 9 do. do. 4 do. 1 do. (as he 

believes.) 
3 6 do. brass, mounted on travelling car- 
riages. 

2 4 do. do do. do. carriages. 
I 3 do. do. do. do. do. 

1 8^ inch howitzer, brass, mounted on do. 
1 5i do. do. do. do. do. 

I '3\ do. do. do. do. do. 

3 6 do. do. iron, on trunk wheel car- 
riages, in the block house at the upper end 
of the town. 

" Witness says, that this was the whole of 
the ordnance, excepting two or three small 
howitzers and swivels, which were not re- 
ported ; and that most of these ordnance was 
mounted before the 8th August. "\\ itness is 
of opinion, that there were 2500 stand of 
arms in the whole, including rifles, for the 
army : he says that, according to the returns 
made, there were at Detroit, on the day cf 
the surrender, 1400 cannon balls for 24 poun- 
ders, about 1700 for 12 prs. 1400 for 'J prs. 
about 4000 balls for 4 and 6 prs. about 4800 
three pound balls, 290 ten inch shells (not 
fixed) about 500 eight inch shells, of which 
100 were fixed, a large quantity [say 4000] 
of 2j inch shells, called hand grenades, a 
considerable number of which were fixed 
with powder and boxed. There were also, 
witness said, about 3| tons of lead, of which 
a considerable quantity had been run into 
balls, as much as was considered a sufficient 
supply for the army ; about U'.OO fugecs in 
the rough — between 2000 and 3000 priming 
tubes, several hundreds of which were fixed 
for immediate use ; about 100,000 flints, 200 
rounds of fixed ammunition for the 24 prs. 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



21 



(as there were 400 rounds on the 14th), 
about 20 rounds of grape for the 24 prs. 
about 200 rounds were fired. As before sta- 
ted, there were 100 rounds fixed for each of 
the 8 and 5 inch howitzers, about 7 having 
been fired, leaving the above number. Wit- 
ness says, that about 100 rounds for each of 
the brass 6 pounders were sent over to Cana- 
da, of which about 80 of each were expend- 
ed — that about 50 rounds were prepared for 
each of the 3 prs. and some few for the 4 
prs. [say 23 each] that he does not know 
the quantity of ammunition, or rounds of 
grape and canister, prepared for the 21, 12 
and 9 prs. as, previous to the declaration of 
war, the fort had been put in a state of de- 
fence, in expectation of an attack from the 
Indians and in expectation of one, after the 
declaration from the British and Indians ; 
and as the ammunition was not deemed neces- 
sary for the defence of the place, it remained 
untouched at the surrender. Witness says 
that there was a large quantity of musket 
and rifle cartridges .prepared, as much as was 
deemed necessary, but he cannot fix precise- 
ly the quantity. He cannot state the exact 
number of barrels of powder, as a good many 
had been taken to fix the ammunition — he 
believes there were about 100 casks remain- 
ing, marked from 100 to 112 lbs.; that is, 
including fixed and unfixed, about 10,000 
lbs. He does not know exactly. He says 
that, on the 7th or 8th August, every thing 
was reported to be complete for service. — 
Witness had charge of the laboratory in July 
f.nd August ; a general preparation was 
made by artificers under the orders of witness 
— the artificers were then discharged. 

''The witness proceeded, said that the 
fort lies on the highest ground in a circumfer- 
ence of three miles, was a regular half bas- 
tion fort, composed of 4 curtains and 4 hall' 
bastions, about 100 yards on each face, not 
including the half bastions ; about 75 yards 
being the extreme length of the curtain — 
that the fort was made partly of earth — the 
parapet eleven feet in elevation— the thickness 
of the top of the parapet about 12 feet, the 
banquet for Infantry six ftet from the foun- 
dation or leve of the fort, and five feet for the 
parapet — the whole width of the rampart at 
its base 26 feet, at the bottom of the exterior 
or slope of the parapet there was a horizontal 
space of ground about 2 or 3 feet in (he ividth, 
extending round the whole circumference of 
the work, the ditch upon an average was from 
Jive to six feet deep,and at the bottom 12 feet 
wide, beyond the exterior or slope of the ditch 
anscope, or glacis, or esplanade. There was 
formerly a covert way, of which traces were 
remaining unhurt. In the bottom of the ditch 
round the fort there was a row of pickets of 



cedar, nearly new, 11 inches in diameter and 
1 1 or 12 feet high ; these pickets were fasten- 
ed together by a rib — the gate was strongly 
made of plaiik with spikes ; over the gate was 
a look out house, also strongly built in the 
lall of 1811 — cannon were mount td in the 
cmbrazures , most of which were repaired and 
put in good order in 1811, and the fort was 
generally, in good order and in good repair. 

After stating that he was stationed at the 
battery called Bartlett's wharf on the 14th 
ot August, which being without a parapet 
and lower than those of the enemy, his men 
were exposed to be swept off in case of an 
attack, he deposed, 

"That he therefore applied to the General 
for leave to build a battery in the centre of 
the town and upon the level with the battery 
erecting by the enemy, permission for doing 
which was obtained ; the battery was com- 
menced about one o'clock on the 14th, and 
completed, so far as to be ready for action at 
the same hour on the 15th ; that on the even- 
ing of the 14th, when the workmen, after 
leaving off work had generally dispersed, 
witness remained in the battery, to which 
Gen. Hull rode up ; when witness conversed 
with him on the propriety of driving the ene- 
my from their works opposite the lower end 
of the town, which had been completed for 
some time — the words of witness were, "Sir, 
if you will give permi.-sion, 1 will clear the 
enemy on the opposite shore from the lower 
batteries."— The Gen. answered, "Mr. Dal- 
liby, 1 will make an agreement with the ene- 
my, that if they will never fire on me, I will 
never Jire on them' 1 '' and concluded his answer 
with this sentence — '•'•Those who live in glass 
houses must take care how they throw stones. ." 
He then rode off. Witness says that on the 
morning of the 5th July, before the Ameri- 
can army arrived at Detroit, the enemy were 
engaged in erecting two batteries on the same 
ground where they were seen working after- 
wards — that witness was then ordered by 
Major V histler, who at that time command- 
ed, to fire on them from the battery at the 
lower end of the town, from the 24 pounders 
•—that he did fire upon them, which had the 
desired effect — that they were driven away 
as they were also from the King's stores about 
a mile and a half distant, from whence they 
were taking off flour, and about the same 
time the inhabitants on the opposite shore re- 
moved, and took a new road at some dis- 
tance from the side of the river, to keep out 
of the range of our shot, 

"Witness says that the cannonading com- 
menced about 3 o'clock of the afternoon of 
the 15th, and was answered by the battery 
he commanded, as well as from the other 
batteries — that this cannonade commenced 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



a short time after the return to the enemy of 
the flag of truce which had been sent to ask 
a surrender of the fort, and continued to be 
exchanged till about 10 o'clock at night — 
that the fire of the 15th was not injurious to 
the army, only one man having received a 
wound in his leg ; the town was a little in- 
jured — that on the 16th the firing re-com- 
nienced on both sides (first by the enemy) at 
break of day ; during which little injury was 
received, to the knowledge of the witness, 
the fne being' principally directed towards 
our batteries — that witness had reason to sup- 
pose, and has since understood that one of 
the enemies batteries was silenced, which 
they repaired ; and about 10 o'clock on the 
16th August, witness received orders from 
Capt. Dyson in the name of Gen. Hull, to 
cease firing, which orders he obeyed — that 
the enemy then continued their fire for fif- 
teen minutes, which they directed princi- 
pally against the fort, and which they were 
enabled to do with precision, not being an- 
noyed by us ; and some officers and men were 
killed in the fort, while witness with his men 
were in the battery unemployed, and that 
soon afterwards he saw the white flag hoist- 
ed on the fort— witness says that he did not 
know of any musket cartridges having been 
damaged. 

" Witness says, that he was at Maiden in 
July or August, 1811, and has been there 
since — that the fort was a regular four 
bastion one, of earth — that the curtains were 
nothing more than pickets or palisades on 
three sides — there was formerly on the river 
side, a fleeche, upon which a cannon had 
been mounted, but none were mounted on 
it in 1812, when he was a prisoner, at which 
time he went round it to satisfy his curiosi- 
ty, but found no alterations. Witness says 
that on the south side of the fort there had 
been considerable alterations, and the batte- 
ries had been repaired — the pickets appear- 
ed to be old, not very strong, and in a state 
of decay — witness remained three weeks af- 
ter the capitulation, and no northern Indians 
arrived sooner than about three weeks after 
the capitulation, at which time witness was 
at Maiden, when there was time for them 
to have heard of the fall of Detroit. 

" Capt. Dalliby then stated that the batte- 
ry he erected in the middle of the town was 
about four feet high, and the embrazures 
were marked out — that when General Hull 
went to that battery on the 14th August, and 
was asked by the witness for permission to 
fire on the enemy, the word " never" was 
used (the witness believes, but will not po- 
sitively say,) by Gen. Hull, in answer to the 
request. He did not understand that Gen. 
Hull had made an agreement with the ene- 



my, not to fire on each other, but that he 
teas willing lo do it.' 1 ' 1 

Extract from the testimony of Captain 
Darnel Baker, of the 1st Reg. Unit- 
ed States Infantry. 

" This witness stated in evidence that he 
was in the army at Detroit on the 15th or 
.6th August, under Gen. Hull, and had 
been there for several years before, in the 
Quarter Master's department. There were 
on those two days, or ought to have been, 
between 5 and 600 of the Michigan militia ; 
that he served with the volunteers from that 
territory at Brownstown, where their con- 
duct was brave; witness was at the fort of 
Detroit until he heard of the surrender, and 
saw General Hull in the course of the morn- 
ing of the 16th, when he appeared to be em- 
barrassed and at a loss how to act ; that wit- 
ness cannot say what the General's feelings 
were, but could account for the surrender 
no other way than by supposing him under 
the influence of personal fear. Witness says 
that he was formerly acquainted with Gen. 
Hull, that he was tolerably well acquainted 
with the resources of the army, and was sa- 
tisfied, in his own mind, that there was a 
sufficiency for its subsistence for 3 months ; 
witness says the fort was much crowded." 

Extract from Major Thomas S. Jessup's 
Testimony. 

"Shortly after quitting the General I met 
Mr. Dougan, Quarter Master of Col. Find- 
lay's regiment, and went with him to Spring 
Wells. We discovered a considerable Bri- 
tish force at Sandwich, nearly opposite to 
Spring-Wells ; one or more British vessels 
had anchored below, and some of them were 
moving up slowly : the enemy appeared to 
be collecting boats, and we supposed they 
intended to cross the river. When we were 
about to return, the British batteries com- 
menced firing, which was immediately re- 
turned by our fire. This was on the 15th. 
On our return, we passed by General Hull 
on horseback in the street, near the second 
battery ; he appeared to be agitated. Mr. Dou- 
gan or I, observed that the General was fright- 
ened ; and it was also observed by one of us 
(I do not recollect which) that "we must 
cheer him up." We approached him and 
spoke to him, and noticed that he was pale 
and very much confused — he dismounted 
from his horse and led him towards the fort. 

" After the firing of the enemy had ceased, 
which was not until after dark, Major Jes- 
sup testifies that " The General then per- 
mitted Messrs. Berry and M'Dougal and my- 
self to go to Spring Wells. We overtook 
Capt. SneJling a short distance from them 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



23 



and accompanied him thither. He had, I 
think, a six pounder, and was very anxious 
to have a 24 pounder. It was the opinion of 
the other officers and myself, that with one 
or two 24 prs., we could drive the British 
from their moorings; we searched immediate- 
ly for a place to plant them, and discovered 
in an orchard a fine situation for a battery. 
We examined the bridges and considered it 
practicable to pass the cannon over them all 
except one, near which there was a large 
quantity of hewn timber. We returned and 
found Gen. Taylor in the fort, who, we then 
learned, had also proposed taking down hea- 
vy cannon. I urged it to Gen. Hull, who 
objected in the first place to the bridge, and 
then that the pieces were heavy and unma- 
nageable. Some person (I think Gen. Tay- 
lor) said that 100 horses could be ready in a 
moment. I then told Gen. Hull the result 
of my observation as to the bridge : he an- 
swered that it was the opinion of the supe- 
rior officers of artillery, that the cannon 
could not be taken over the bridges, and that 
he would be governed by it. 

"On the morning of the 16th of August, 
Major Jessup being with Col. Findlay,whose 
regiment was posted outside of the fort, he 
was requested by him to go to Gen. Hull for 
orders, as the enemy had opened a fire on 
the Canada shore, and he testified— "1 found 
the Gen. in the fort, he said he wished the 
line of battle to be formed at some distance 
below the fort ; directed me to order Col. 
Findlay's regt.andCols.M'Arthur and Cass's 
detachments to be posted there; and ordered 
me to consult Col. Findlay, and to tell him 
that he would support him immediately. The 
line was formed perpendicularly to the river, 
perhaps a quarter of a mile below the fort ; 
the left behind a row of high pickets ; the 
right, I believe was behind a common fence; 
our dragoons were on the right. When the 
line was formed, Capt. Maxwell and myself 
went out for the purpose of reconuoitering 
the enemy ; we discerned them marching in 
column through a lane, on their left of which 
there was a number of orchards, gardens and 
buildings ; the fences appeared to be a pick- 
eting or stockade. I returned immediately 
to the fort, having requested Capt. Maxwell 
to report to Col Findlay the situation of the 
enemy. 

"■On my arrival at the fort, I immediately 
reported the position of the enemy to Gen. 
Hull ; observed that this would be a fit op- 
portunity for artillery to open upon them ; 
and that if they attempted to form in line, 
our dragoons could take them in flank. The 
Gen. permitted me to take out some pieces 
of artillery, and directed me to take com- 
mand of the dragoons. Immediately after 



leaving the fort I met with Capt. Dyson, 
who, I think, informed me that Lieut. Ander- 
son had taken out a piece of artillery. I 
left him and proceeded to the right, to com- 
mand the dragoons who were patrolling. By 
the time I met with some of the officers of 
the dragoons, I perceived that our line was 
breaking up, retreating to the rear, towards 
the fort, by flanks of platoons or companies. 
I rode to Col. Findlay to enquire the reason: 
on my way I met an officer and enquired 
what was the matter : he said " look to the 
fort ; I did so, and saw a ivhite flag flying. 
Col. Findlay, if I recollect right, said he did 
not know why we retreated, and desired me 
to ride to the fort and enquire. I saw Gen. 
Hull in the fort, and thought him very much 
frightened when I met him. I enquired of 
the Gen. if it was possible we were about 
to surrender. He said something about the 
enemy's force and terms, but 1 could not 
collect what: his voice was at this time tre- 
mulous; I mentioned that we could at least 
hold out till we were joined by Cols. Cass 
and M' Arthur, He exclaimed, " My God, 
what shall 1 do with these women and chil- 
dren !" I left him, went to Col. Findlay, 
and stated that all was lost, and requested 
him to endeavour to save us. After this, I 
did not see the General until the terms of 
capitulation had been agreed upon. 

"Major Jessup having continued his narra- 
tive so far, recurred to former parts of it, and 
stated that, when, before the capitulation, 
he communicated to Gen. Hull that he had 
reconnoitered the enemy, witness found him 
in the fort on the side next the enemy" 1 s bat- 
tery, completely sheltered silling on the side 
of a tent by a bed ; that he then told the 
General, that the enemy's force was about 
7 or 800, and that our guard which was most 
advanced, had surrendered to the enemy. — 
At this time witness thinks Gen. Hull said 
that Col. Brush told him that his men were 
leaving him ; he also exclaimed that four 
men were killed at one shot, and appeared to 
be so much alarmed that he did not know 
what he was about. The tobacco juice had 
fallen from his mouth upon his jacket and a- 
bout his cheeks. The head of the enemy's 
column was at some yards distance, and a 
detachment of the enemy's troops came into 
the fort before the American troops marched 
out, and before the articles of capitulation 
were signed. No means were taken, to the 
knowledge of witness, to prevent the enemy 
from getting command of our batteries. — 
Witness was informed that the advanced 
guard which had surrendered, consisted of 
about twelve, said to be commanded by one 
Godefroy, a Frenchman and a citizen. 

" Major Jessup stated also that, on th& 



21 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



evening of the 15th, when he mentioned to 
the General that the enemy had moved with 
most of his forces, he observed that it would 
be a fine opportunity to cross over and spike 
the cannon ; and proposed going himself 
with 20!) men — then with 150, and then 
with 100 men — on which propositions sever- 
al observations were made, but no permis- 
sion given to the witness ; whose opinion 
then was, and still is, that the enemy's 
works could have been carried with one 
hundred men. Witness said that, at the, 
nnnentof this conversation, a shot struck 1 
a house near him, upon which Gen. Hull 
was much agitated, dismounted, and led his 
horse to the fort. Witness did not know 
from what the agitation arose, but believed it 
ivas from fear, and the nivelty of his situa- 
tion. Whenever he saw the General before 
the capitulation, he was agitated ; after it 
he appeared composed. Witness says that 
the country near was of such a nature, as 
that, by cutting down some of the orchards 
in the neighborhood of the fort, and posting 
mfm in the gardens, a few msn could have 
defended themselves against the whole Bri- 
tish force, and that he wondered that it was 
not occupied on the evening of the 15th Au- 
gust. The witness did not know the ene- 
my's force, but his impression, from the at- 
tempt he made to count them, and from the 
size of their platoons and of their columns, 
was, that the white force was about 750, ex- 
clusive of Indians — a part of the militia force 
was dressed in red coats as regulars. 

"■Question. What were the conduct and 
sensations of the troops when you read the 
articles of capit^ation to them ? 

Ansictr. On the morning of the 16th the 
spirits of the troops seemed to be somewhat 
depressed ; but, upon my giving the order to 
form the line of battle, they were revived, 
and appeared desirous of meeting the ene- 
my. When the line was retreating, both offi- 
cers and men appeared displeased and mur- 
mured ; and when ordered to stack their 
arms, after marching out, they evinced the 
greatest dissatisfaction and indignation. 

Question. Did Col. Brush's men leave 
him, as stated to you by Gen. Hull ? 

Answer. I btlievc not. I only stated that 
the Gen. mentioned that Col. Brush report- 
ed to him (the General) that his men were 
leaving him. / did not hear of this but thro" 1 
Gen. Hull. 

Question. Do you know what was the 
causp. of the troops being low-spirited on the 
morning of the 16th, before the line was or- 
dered to be formed ? 

Answer. They had been under arms the 
whole of the preceding night, aud appeared 



to be of opinion that no exertions would bs 
made to repel the enemy. 

Question. While the terras of capitula- 
tion were discussing, were the troops of the 
U. States so posted as to have been able to 
make a defence, in the event of degrading 
terms being insisted on by Gen. Brock ? 

Answer. The man were crowded in the 
fort in the utmost disorder. The enemies 
troops were permitted to approach so near 
the fort as to be able to take possession of the 
batteries." 

Extract from the testimony of Capt. 

Charles Fuller, of the 4th U. States 

Infantry. 

14 Witness say3 that he saw Gen. Hull se- 
veral ti'nes on the 16th, an! in his judgment, 
he appeared to be frightened — witness 
thought so at that time — he never saw the 
marquee before the morning of the 16th, and 
does not know when it was pitched." 

"Question. You stated that I had the ap- 
pearance of being under personal fear : do 
you not think that appearance might have 
proceeded from anxiety and the heavy res- 
ponsibility I was under ? 

44 A'iswer. I presume it would. / have 
no doubt of your appearance on that occasion 
being the effect of personal fear : I had none 
then, I have none noio." 
Extract from the testimony of Capt. 

John L. Eastman, of the 4th U. S. 

Infantry. 

44 That he saw Col. M'Donald with Gen. 
Hull in Captain Dyson's quarters — heard the 
General express to Colonel M'Donald a wish 
to make provision for the Canadians who 
had taken protection from him, when Col. 
M'Donald replied, u It is totally inadmissi- 
ble," and the General said, 4l Well, Sir, I 
shall surrender.^ When the shot from the 
enemy killed the officers, General Hull went 
into Capt. Dyson's quarters, and immediately 
returned with a letter, which he gave to Capt. 
Hull, his aid,to send by Capt. S7ielling with a 
flag. Capt. Hull took one of the pikes made 
for boarding the Queen Charlotte, tied a 
white handkerchief upon it, and gave it to 
Capt. Snelling, who took hold of it without 
seeing the flag, but seeing it, said HE would 

BE DAMNED IF HE WOULD DISGRACE HIM- 
SELF BY TAKr.VG THAT FLAG FROM THE 

fort. Gen. Hull standing near asked what 
was the matter ; Major Snelling said he was 
in a passion, and Capt. Hull then took the 
flag and went, witness did not know where. 
14 Witness said he saw the General on tl*e 
morning of the 15th, when the shell hurst. 
When it came into fort he ran as if he was 
going under the platform, bnt witness did not 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



2y 



know whether it was his intention or not. — 
'j he General's whole conduct, on the evening 
of the Ibth and morning of the \6(h, was 
such as to impress the witness with the convic- 
tion that he was under the influence of per- 
sonal fear, which opinion icitness expressed at 
the lime. Witness remained 24 days at De- 
troit after the capitulation. The Saganac 
Indians arrived there in about three days af- 
ter the capitulation, in number about 250, of 
"whom 60 were warriors — (he Makana Indians 
did not arrive before the \Qlh or \\lh of 
September, in number about 1100 or 1200 
warriors." 
Extract from the Testimony of Lieut. 

Georg3 Gooding, of the 4th U. S. 

Infantry. 

" Witness says that he was in the North- 
Westem Army under Gen. Hull, and went 
with the baggage in the vessel from the Ra- 
pids — did not go by any order, and never 
knew the master of her before he went on 
board ; that he saw two trunks on board, 
which he supposed to belong to Gen. Hull, 
containing letters from the Secretary at War 
to the General, but does not know of any 
muster-rolls. The boat was taken in the 
mouth of the river, between the shore and 
the island of Bois Blanch, and on the Mai- 
den side, near EllsolFs house — they were ob- 
liged to pass near to the fort of Maiden. The 
boat that took them was coming from the 
island. Witness saw on the south side of 
their boat a large batteau full of British sol- 
diers making for them — that there were in 
the boat with witness altogether about 40 or 
45 men, 34 or 36 of whom were of the 1st 
and 4th regiments, the whole of whom were 
invalids ; two militia officers, three serjeants, 
and himself being the only persons in health 
ou board, excepting the boat's crew ; that 
the arms were in the hold ; that when they 
started they had not the smallest apprehen- 
sion or suspicion of being attacked ; that on 
the 2d July witness was taken to Amherst- 
burgh, and remained there until the 6th Au 
gust ; while there he saw a letter from Ge 
neral Harrison to General Hull, naming ; 
certain Indian chief, upon whom the latter 
might rely; which Indian was put in irons 
in consequence. Witness says that the re 
gular British force at Maiden was from 200 
to, 250 ; that about 120 boatmen arrived af- 
ter he arrived there, he having seen them 
draw part of their arms from the military 
store ; that the militia was coining in every 
day, but he did not know their numbers, nor 
ever saw them parade — the militia guard 
about the middle of July stood 43 hours, on 
account of the smallness of their numbers ; 
fhat Colonel Proctor arrived at tin end of Ju- 



ly or first of August, in an open boat, with 
ten or twelve men. Witness knew of no force 
brought by Colonel Proctor, nor of any rtin- 
forcements after his (witness') arrival there, 
except about 50 or 60 Sank Indians, who 
came about the middle of July. Witness 
saw a man riding in, and heard him halloo 
'_' The Yankees are coming," and then he 
saw some things going on board the brig 
Hunter, and there was much confusion in 
the town." 

Extract from Lieut. Asher Philip's tes- 
timony. 

" That he was doing duty in the fourth 
regiment of infantry, and in the army com- 
manded by Brigadier General Hull, and was 
at Detroit on the 1 5th and 16th Aug. 1812 ; 
that he saw General Hull on the morning of 
the latter day, but did not hear him say 
much ; he was sitting on a tent which was 
lying on the ground, with his back toivards 
the parapet or wall, one gentleman and one 
lady near him — he appeared to be very much 
agitated, and witness then supposed that he 
was under the impression of fear — the gen- 
tleman who stood by the General was Doc- 
tor Cunningham, and who the lady was wit- 
ness did not recollect." 
Extract from the Testimony of Col. 

James Miller, of the 6th United States 

Infantry. 

" Question by General Hull. Can you 
mention any act of mine on the 16th, which 
you did at the time, or do now, impute to 
cowardice or personal fear, and if so, 
what ?" 

11 A. Yes ! such an immediate surrender 
I think was indicative of a want of cou- 
rage." 
Extract from the testimony of Lieut. 

Lewis Peckham, of the 4th U. S. In- 
fantry. 

Lieutenant Peckham was again called and 
said, *' I saw General Hull frequently at 
Detroit, on the 15th and 16th August; and 
on the \Gth during lite cannonade, he ap- 
peared to me to be much agitated ; and the 
impression made upon my mind was, that lie 
was under the influence of personal fear. He 
gave no ci'ders, lo my knowledge.''' 1 

Extract from General James Taylor's 
testimony. 
11 Witness said that the order to retreat 
from Canada excited very general and almost 
universal disapprobation among the troops ; 
that after the orders were issued to retreat 
from Canada, the officers and witness in par- 
ticular, expostulated with General Hull, and 
ilrongty urged him not to retreat, observing 



26 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



that the nature of his proclamation offering 
protection to the inhabitants, was such as 
would materially injure any other army 
which might come, if those inhabitants who 
had come in under that proclamation should 
be deserted ; stating that the Indians could 
not collect such force as he apprehended, from 
the want of provisions necesssary for their 
march through the woods ; and finally urging 
him to suspend the execution of his orders un- 
til the next day, that means might be taken 
to remove the waggons and other public pro- 
perty from Canada ; the General, however, 
■persisted in his determination.'''' 

" Witness says that he saw the Eritish offi- 
cers come to the fort at Detroit — he was then 
at the gate ; that General Hull was about 
taking them into the fort ; but he was advi- 
sed not to do so, and then directed them to 
his marquee ; that Gen. Hull sent witness for 
Colonel Fiudlay, whom and witness he wish- 
ed to act as commissioners, and to draw up 
the terms of capitulation ; they both replied 
that they did not agree with him as to the ne- 
cessity for it, and therefore could not act ; 
and the General expressed his sorrow that 
they did not join him in opinion as to the on- 
ly measure that could be adopted." 

h Witness also says that he saw General 
Hull several times on the 15th and 16th Au- 
gust, and cannot say that the Generals ap- 
pearance made any impression on his mind 
on the 15th, as indicative of personal fear; 
that when witness saw him early in the morn- 
ing of the 16th, he appeared pensive and 
very low-toned : he did nothing to cheer the 
men or keep up their spirits : his countenance 
teas dull, and his whole conduct made an im- 
pression on the mind of the witness that he 
was not as Jirm as he ought to have been ; 
his position was very near the gate and to- 
wards that part of the fort least exposed: — 
that General Hull sent an order to Col. Find- 
lay to move from the upper to the lower side 
of the fort, without giving any directions 
where the troops were to station themselves, 
or how they were to act ; that while witness 
was with him, the General was informed 
that the British were preparing to cross, and 

HE GAVE NO ORDER THAT THEY SHOULD BE 

met ; that witness saw the tobacco-spittle which 
was rubbed over his face ; and that he thinks 
General Hull was under the influence of per- 
sonal fear — witness thinks that the force un- 
der Colonel Bush consisted of about 300 
men." 

Extract from the testimony of Lieut. 
Aaron W. Furbush, who was taken 
in the small vessel which was sent 
with the baggage from the Rapids, 
and carried prisoner to Maiden. 



Question by the Judge advocate. 
" Q. " Did the enemy permit you to g» 
about the works at Maiden ?" 

Answer. They did ; 1 was a little re- 
strained. 

Question. Could you ascertain their force ? 
Jlnsiver. I took every opportunity I could 
of counting them. The regulars when I ar- 
rived, were from eighty to one hundred — from, 
250 to 300 militia, including those in the 
hosts ; perhaps from 300 to 350 Indians ; but 
it was dificult to ascertain this with any pre- 
cision. 

Question. What number of troops arrived 
at Maiden ? 

Jlnsiver. There were in the Hunter 30 re- 
gulars, and in the Lady Provost from 30 to 
40 regulars — this was about the 20th July ; 
and after the battle of Brownston there were 
about 300 in red coats from York. From the 
20th to the 30th July, many of the militia 
went to their farms and returned, making, 
as many as before, exclusive of those in red 
coats — say 900 were the whole force at Mai- 
den. At the time of the battle of Browns- 
town there were only a sergeant and 12 mtu 
in the fort. 

Question. How many crossed at the battle 
of Brownston ? 

Jlnswer. About 740 regulars, militia and 

Indians, exclusive of the Brownston Indians. 

Question. Were you at Maiden when 

Col. Cass and Miller took the bridge at Aux 

Canards, and what became of the troops? 

Jlnswer. I was. The troops were mostly 
moved out of the town — there was a good 
deal of confusion in the town, moving ef- 
fects. The Queen Charlotte came to the 
wharf, and took in the baggage and women ; 
she afterwards had her topsails loose ready 
to sail. 

Extract from the testimony of Brevet 
Major John Whistler. 
" I saw Capt. Hull on that morning (after 
the men were killed, General Hull being 
near the gate) take a dirty towel to Jix as a 
flag of truce on one of the boarding pikes, 
which I thought loo dirty; he then brought 
out a table cloth or a sheet, which I thought 
would be too large, and said it should not go 
wp,' as the jlmerican Ensign must be lowered, 
and the enemy might suppose we had surren- 
dered. This passed so near General Hull 
that he must have heard the ivhole of it ; he 
however said nothing. Capt. Barton hoisted 
it on one of the bastions. General Hull was 
leaning on the side of the fort next the ene- 
my, and in a secure part except against the 
shells. I went, some days before the army 
re-crossed, with a Mr. Baird, the deputy 
contractor, to a store which held the provi- 
sions of the araiy ; and saw, and helped to 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN, 



27 



count, between 2 and 300 bbls. of flour, 48 
barrels of pork, 16 or 17 barrels of salt beef, 
and 20 barrels of whiskey. I kept the key 
of the store at ray quarters. I think there 
were a couple of waggon loads taken out at 
different times, before the surrender, — there 
might have been more, as they could get the 
key in my absence. There was one waggon 
load of flour brought there before the capitu- 
lation ; the army was furnished with some 
fresh beef from the time Mr. Baird and I 
counted these provisions. Mr. Caird might 
have furnished salt provision? from outside 
of the store. Gen. Hull told me, I think, of 
COO or 900 sheep taken from the Canada 
side, which he put under my charge — there 
was an old man who came with them, their 
former keeper. Some of them were taken 
for the use of the garrison to my knowledge, 
reports of them being made to me every 
night — some of them were killed by the ene- 
my's balls. I went to Detroit in 1797, and 
am generally acquainted with the country. 
If provisions could have been collected with 
the other resources of the country, the army 
might have subsisted for two months. There 
were large crops of wheat in 1812. 

Question. Did you see General Hull in 
the fort on the moruign of the lGth during 
the cannonade ? 

JLnswer. I did. 

Question. Did or did not the situation and 
appearance of the General induce you to 
think at the time that he was under the in- 
fluence of personal fear ? 

Answer. It did. 

These were the facts on which a court 
martial convicted General Hull. They tell 
such a plain, clear and unequivocal story, 
and place his disgraceful conduct, in such 
bold relief, that comment thereon would be 
supererogation. A brave, zealous and patri- 
otic army was shamefully sacrificed, without 
being suffered/o^/rre a single gun,and the whole 
of the north western frontier, laid open to the 
ravages of the enemy and his savage allies, 
which occasioned those horrible scenes of 
devastation and massacre, in which was spilt 
the hest blood of the gallant sons of the west, 
who were compelled to roll back that tide of 
war, which might have been stayed, at the 
straits of Detroit, if the commander had 
been fired with the ardour of his soldiers, 
who were eager for battle and confident of 
victory. This most culpable dereliction of 
duty, a Court Martial has attributed to 
cowardice ; but which, General Hull has 
now attempted to prove, was not the cause, 
and pleases himself with the idea, if he can 
be exonerated from that imputation, he shall 
go down to posterity as a brave, but much 
injured man. tl Let him not lay this flatter- 



"ing unction to his soul," for if he is unwil- 
ling to rest under the charge of coivardice, he 
must flee to the other horn of the dilemma, 
and be blasted with the more odious and 
criminal epithet of traitor, — for no milita- 
ry man can assign any other, than one of 
those two causes, for his conduct. 

Having closed my remarks on General 
Hull's tm-military conduct, while command- 
ing the north western army, it is proper to 
advert to some of those unwarrantable asser- 
tions, and sweeping denunciations, which 
have been so profusely scattered over his 
Memoirs. 

In his second number is the following ex- 
traordinary paragraph ; — "and that although 
the administration employed, at your ex- 
pense, two of the first counsellors in our 
country, Mr. Dallas and Mr. Van Buren, to 
assist the Judge Advocate in the prosecution, 
the Court would not suffer me, to employ 
any counsel at my own expense, to open 
their lips in the court." Such is the studied, 
phraseology of this assertion, that every per- 
son, ignorant of the fact, would presume, 
that '■'•the court would not suffer him to em- 
u ploy any coiinse!," and that he was left, 
single handed, to manage his defence ; and 
although he may quiet his conscience, and 
elude the charge, of having made an incor- 
rect assertion, by a cunning equivoque, I shall 
expose the unmanly attempt at delusion, by 
the following extracts from the report of his 
trial. 
" 3d day, Wednesday, 12th January, 
1814. 

" The Court met pursuant to adjournment 
— General Hull appeared and proposed that 
Robert Tillotson, Esq. should be admitted 
as his counsel — which was agreed to.'''' 

" 5th day, Monday, 17th Jan. 1814. 

" The Court met pursuant to adjourn- 
ment — the charges against the prisoner were 
read, to which General Hull pleaded — Not 
Guilty — in the usual form. It was then pro- 
posed that C. D. Colden, Esq. should be the 
additional advocate in behalf of the prison- 
er, which was granted by the Court.' 1 '' 

In his thirtieth number he dwells on this 
subject, and in the same Jesuitical manner, 
so as to leave the impression, that he was 
u not permitted to employ counsel," to aid 
him in his defence. — But having unhinged 
the wily equivoque, and shown this part of 
his charge untrue, I assert with confidence, 
that the court acted in conformity to the es- 
tablished principles of martial law in refus- 
ing " his counsel to open their lips," in the 
presence of the court. This is the establish- 
ed law of all nations, and our naval and mi- 
lilary courts martial have been, and still are 



28 



DEFENCE OF GENERAL DEARBORN. 



governed by this rule. For the truth of this 
declaration, I appeal to the writers on mar- 
tial law, and to the officers of our army and 
navy. The counsel can only make sugges- 
tions to the accused, reduce questions to the 
witnesses, to writing, which must be submit- 
ted to the judge advocate and the Court, be- 
fore they are put — and aid the accused in 
drawing up his defence. General Hull well 
knew, this was the established law. 

He accuses the President and Secretary of 
War, of having; organized a court martial, 
that would be subservient to their wishes — 
which he alleges were his destruction — and 
that the officers who deposed on his trial, 
had been suborned with the bribe of promo- 
tion. The names of most of the witnesses 
I have given, and these were the officers who 
composed the court. 

Major Gen. Henry Dearborn, President. 
Members. 
Brig. Gen. Joseph Bloomfield, 
Cols. Peter Little, 38th Regt. 

Wm. N. Ervine, 42d Regt. 

Lieut. Cols. James House, 

Wm. Scott, 36th Reg. 
Wm. Stewart, 38th Reg. 
Cols. J. R. Fenwick, Art. C. 
Robert Bagardus, 41st. 
Lieut. Cols. Richard Dennis, 16th. 
Samuel S. Conner, 13th. 
S. B. Davis, 32d. 
J. W. Livingston, 41st. 
Lt. Col. J. G. Forbes, 42d Reg. Super- 
numerary. 
Judge Advocate, Martin Van Buren, Esq. 
Army Judge Advocate, Phillip L. Parker, Esq. 
Their characters are well known, and it 
would be insulting to them, to do any thing 
more, than to publish their names, to refute 
the calumnies of a man who is intrenched 
behind the ramparts of convicted cowardice, 
and beyond the reach of an honorable officer; 
but I shall here introduce an extract from 
the concluding remarks of his defence, by 



way of contrast, to his late insulting obser- 
vations. 

" Allow me, Mr. President, and gentlemen 
of the court, with the most heart-felt sensi- 
bility, to return you my sincere thanks, for 
the manner in which this trial has been con- 
ducted. For thought, as I humbly conceive, 
there has been some departure from accus- 
tomed forms, in respeci to the examination 
of witnesses, I know that the court has bten 
governed by nothing but its own sense of 
propriety. The conduct of the members of 
this court, and of the judge advocate, has 
been such as I had anticipated, and every 
thing that I could expect from honorable, 
impartial and humane men. Whatever may 
be your sentence, I shall always with grati- 
tude acknowledge that I have had a fair, 
candid and patient hearing." 

To the clemency of the members of this 
court, which he has so much abused, is Gen. 
Hull indebted fcr his life, as it is probable 
he would have suffered the just senttnee of 
death, had they not " earnestly recommen- 
ded him to the mercy of the President of the 
United States." 

He has introduced the surrender of Bur- 
goyne, General Lincoln, Lord Cornwallis 
and Washington as parallel to his at Detroit. 
What monstrous presumption, and horrible 
profanation ! Those officers fought battle 
after battle, and were overwhelmed, after 
gallantly disputing every inch of ground 
with the enemy. 

As to the mean and contemptible vitupe- 
ration, in relation to General Dearborn, it is 
sufficient to say that it is the wanton act of 
a desperate man, who has no character to 
lose, — of General Hull. 

This has been the most painful act of my 
life. I should never have exposed the char- 
acter of General Hull, had it not been my 
duty as a Son, during the absence of a much 
injured Father. 

H. A. S. DEARBORN. 
Brinley-Flace, July 27, 1824. 



THE END 



ERRATA. 



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